In a major coup for Lille, the French club has announced the signing of Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante on a five-year contract. The transfer fee is reported to be €35 million.
The deal was completed on Tuesday and follows a long-term interest in Kante by Lille, who have been monitoring his progress at Chelsea since he arrived from Monaco in 2016.
Kante's arrival at Lille will be a significant boost for the team, which currently sits second in the Ligue 1 table. He is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe and has already made a significant impact with his performances for Chelsea.
"Signing N'Golo Kante is a major step forward for our club," said Lille president Stéphane Egouin. "He is a player who can make a difference in every game and we are confident that he will help us achieve success this season."
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri also expressed his delight at Kante's move to Lille. "We wish N'Golo all the best for his new adventure," he said. "He is a talented player and we know that he will bring something special to Lille."
The transfer fee of €35 million is believed to be one of the highest ever paid for a player in Ligue 1. It is a sign of the growing importance of midfielders in European football and shows just how much Lille value their star player.
Overall, the arrival of Kante at Lille is sure to be a big boost for the team and could well see them challenge for the title this season.