<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">France's World Cup-winning midfielder N'Golo Kante has joined Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad, the club said in a statement on Wednesday, joining up with compatriot Karim Benzema.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>"Kante is an Ittihad player now!" the club said on Twitter, while chairman Anmar al-Hailee tweeted: "Welcome to our new tiger Kante," a reference to the team's nickname.</div><div><br></div><div>The 32-year-old becomes the latest in a line of European stars choosing to ply their trade in the desert kingdom, which is making big-money moves across elite sport.</div><div><br></div><div>A dynamic and industrious midfielder, Kante won the World Cup with France in 2018.</div><div><br></div><div>His club career also glitters. He won the Champions League and World Club Cup with Chelsea, as well as back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea.</div><div><br></div><div>Kante's contract with the London club was set to expire this month. He has signed a three-year deal with Al Ittihad, the Jeddah-based team said in a statement, though it gave no details of how much Kante will earn.</div><div><br></div><div>"Kante's addition to Al-Ittihad is considered one of the most high-profile and impactful signings in the club's history," the statement added.</div><div><br></div><div>"It is part of the club's efforts to establish itself as a top choice for world-class players in the Saudi Professional League."</div><div><br></div><div>He will wear the number seven shirt, which he also donned at Chelsea.</div><div>Current Ballon d'Or holder Benzema joined Al-Ittihad earlier this month, after 14 seasons with Real Madrid in which he won five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey.</div><div><br></div><div>- 'Very excited' -</div><div><br></div><div>In a video posted online by the club, the 35-year-old said in a message to his fellow Frenchman: "One time I told you, you're the best player, box to box, in the world. Now I'm happy to play with you again, and of course in the best team in Saudi."</div><div><br></div><div>Kante said he was "very excited to play for the Tigers".</div><div><br></div><div>The kingdom's league had already signed up five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in January.</div><div><br></div><div>His fellow Portuguese international Ruben Neves, currently of Wolves, is reportedly set to join Al Hilal.</div><div><br></div><div>Argentina legend Lionel Messi, widely considered the greatest player of all time, declined to make a similar move despite a lengthy Saudi courtship, and will instead join Inter Miami in the United States.</div><div><br></div><div>With its oil riches, Saudi Arabia -- a conservative monarchy frequently criticised over its human rights record -- has swiftly achieved a prominent role in world sports.</div><div><br></div><div>In football, the presumed goal is hosting the World Cup, which is intended to lift Saudi Arabia's profile and prestige as it tries to diversify its oil-reliant economy by attracting tourists and investors.</div><div><br></div><div>In the coming years, Saudi Arabia will organise the men's Asian Cup football, the Olympic-style Asian Games and even the Asian Winter Games in 2029.</div><div><br></div><div>The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the state's sovereign wealth vehicle, holds an 80 percent stake in Newcastle United, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season.</div><div><br></div><div>In golf, the PIF has also ruffled feathers. It bankrolls LIV Golf, whose clash with the PGA Tour nearly caused a rupture in the sport.</div><div><br></div><div>A surprise merger between the rival tours earlier this month settled a legal battle, only a year after LIV Golf launched with several stars who had jumped from the PGA for big-money offers from the upstart series. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>