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

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

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

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.