Leicester's £26m profit on sale of N'Golo Kante to Chelsea

N'golo Kante, who helped Leicester City win the Premier League, has joined Chelsea. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Chelsea have completed the signing of midfielder N'Golo Kante from Leicester City.

The France international has passed a medical and put pen to paper on a five-year-contract, the Stamford Bridge club have confirmed. The fee is reported to be £32 million for the 25-year-old.

Kante, signed for Leicester last summer from Caen for £5.6m, was a revelation during his maiden season in England as Claudio Ranieri’s side became shock Premier League champions.

He was on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award – won by Foxes team-mate Riyad Mahrez – but his displays brought him to the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Kante, who was part of the France squad which finished runners-up to Portugal at Euro 2016, becomes the second summer signing for new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte after Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi.

Kante said: “I am so happy to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It’s a dream come true for me. The opportunity to work with Antonio Conte, a brilliant coach, and some of the best players in the world was simply too good to turn down. My first season in English football was very special and now I hope to go on to achieve even more during my time as a Chelsea player.”

Leicester secured top scorer Jamie Vardy on a new contract amid interest from Arsenal. But the loss of Kante will be a major blow to their plans for next season, while Mahrez is also reportedly eyeing a move away as the team which stunned English football last season threatens to break up.