N’Golo Kanté is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the French national team. He was born on 29 March 1991 in Paris. His height is recorded as 1.68 m and his weight as 68 kg^【1】. Throughout his club career, he has worn the jerseys of Boulogne, Caen, Leicester City, Chelsea, and Al Ittihad.

Identity and Basic Information

Kanté’s date of birth is 29 March 1991. His position is midfielder. He currently plays for Al Ittihad. Previously, he has represented the clubs of France, Chelsea, Leicester City, Caen, and Boulogne.

Familial Origins and Childhood

Kanté was born in Paris to Malian immigrant parents. His family migrated from Mali to France in 1980. He is the eldest of four siblings. He lost his father at the age of 11. After this loss, his mother took sole responsibility for raising Kanté and his siblings.

He spent his childhood in the area around Rueil-Malmaison, near Paris. His mother worked as a cleaner. To support his family, Kanté collected waste and recyclable materials. He walked long distances in the suburban areas to deliver these materials to recycling companies.

During the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he earned income by collecting trash left around stadiums and tournament venues. He saved this income with a specific goal in mind.

Beginnings in Football and Youth Career

Kanté began playing football at JS Suresnes in the suburbs of Paris. He started playing at the age of eight. Due to his small physical stature, he did not attract widespread attention for a long time. As an alternative to football, he pursued professional training in accounting.

The Suresnes period was a long phase of playing at lower league levels before turning professional. He played for Suresnes until he was 19, after which he transferred to Boulogne, a club competing in the third division.

Club Career

Boulogne

Kanté began his professional career at Boulogne. In the 2012–13 season, he made 39 appearances for Boulogne and scored 3 goals.

During his time at Suresnes, he was not selected by many clubs in France. At one point, a club official helped him move between clubs, eventually leading to Boulogne offering him a chance.

Caen

In 2013, he transferred to Caen. He made 81 appearances for Caen, scoring 6 goals and providing 6 assists.

He regularly played during Caen’s time in Ligue 2. The following season, he competed in Ligue 1, gaining top-flight experience around the age of 23.

Leicester City

In the 2015–16 season, he transferred to Leicester City. That season, he won the Premier League title with Leicester City.

He made 40 appearances for Leicester City, scoring 1 goal and providing 4 assists.

Chelsea

In 2016, he transferred to Chelsea. His Chelsea career spanned from 2016 to 2023. The transfer fee was €35.8 million. He made his debut for Chelsea against West Ham.

With Chelsea, he won the Premier League (2016–17), the FA Cup (2017–18), the UEFA Europa League (2018–19), and the UEFA Champions League (2020–21). He also achieved success in the UEFA Super Cup (2021) and the FIFA Club World Cup (2021).

In the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League season, he received the “Midfielder of the Season” award and was named in the “Squad of the Season” team.

Al Ittihad

On 20 June 2023, he signed a contract with Al Ittihad. During the same period, he played alongside Karim Benzema. He has made 45 appearances for Al Ittihad, scoring 4 goals.

France National Team Career

He declined an invitation to play for the Mali national team. He was called up directly to the France senior national team without having played for any youth levels. He made his senior international debut on 25 March 2016 against the Netherlands. Four days later, on his birthday, he started in the starting eleven against Russia and scored a goal.

He played his first official tournament match at EURO 2016 against Romania. He played the full 90 minutes and provided an assist. France lost the EURO 2016 final to Portugal. He did not play in the final match.

He was part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup squad. He started in all seven matches of the tournament. France won the championship by defeating Croatia 4–2 in the final. In his international career, he has made 53 appearances and scored 2 goals.

He was not included in the 2022 World Cup squad due to injury. He returned to the national team squad in 2024 European Championship. France was eliminated by Spain in the semifinals.

Playing Style and Role on the Pitch

He has played as a central midfielder. He is defined by his ability to win the ball, make interventions, and cover space. In some matches, he has been evaluated as a defensive midfielder. At the EURO 2016 match against Romania, he stood out with statistics in interventions, passes, and interceptions.

His on-field attributes are shaped by technical ability, physical endurance, and consistency. He has played an active role in defensive contributions and transition to attack.

Personal Life, Beliefs, and Daily Habits

Kanté is a Muslim. His faith plays a decisive role in his daily life. He observed Ramadan even during the demanding schedule of professional football.

His older brother Yacine played football at AS Choisy-le-Roi. His younger sister was part of the Suresnes youth academy. One of his siblings died from a heart attack before 2018 World Cup.

He is married to Jude Littler. Littler is of Welsh/Anglesey origin and has worked in various professional fields. He was previously married to Djibril Cissé, with whom he has three children. He has no children with Littler. He keeps his private life away from public attention.

Lifestyle and Publicly Known Details

He has consistently made simple choices in his daily life. In the early stages of his career, he commuted to training on a scooter. In England, he drove a Mini Hatchback, choosing it for its driving convenience. He prefers home-cooked meals. His interests include tennis, karaoke, and spending time with close friends.

For a long time, he used an old smartphone. He prefers not to replace items that are still functional.

It is known that he drove a Mini Cooper in England. It has been reported that after missing an Eurostar train, he played five-a-side football and watched a match at a fan’s home.

Achievements and Awards

Club Achievements

He won the 2015–16 Premier League title with Leicester City. With Chelsea, he won the Premier League (2016–17), the FA Cup (2017–18), the UEFA Europa League (2018–19), and the UEFA Champions League (2020–21). He also won the UEFA Super Cup (2021) and the FIFA Club World Cup (2021).

National Team Achievements

He won the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League with France.

Individual Awards and Honors

He has been named in the PFA Team of the Year, the ESM Team of the Year, Leicester City Players’ Player of the Year, PFA Players’ Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Year, FIFA FIFPro World11, and the UEFA Team of the Year.

In 2019, he was honored with the title of “Knight” in the Legion of Honour.