For the past four years N’Golo Kante has been a revelation and a complete joy to watch.
The pint-sized enforcer burst onto the Premier League scene back in 2015 when he signed for Leicester City at 24-years-old from SM Caen for a bargain fee of £8.1million.
After two years in the blue of the Foxes, Kante made the switch to Stamford Bridge and Chelsea for just over £30million. The Frenchman signed a five-year contract, he would then extend his stay in west London by signing a new deal last year keeping him at the club until 2023.
Kante always has always got a smile on his face, whether playing football or not, and the 5ft 6in midfielder is often referred to as the nicest man in football.
(Image: Getty Images)
Water covers 71% of the earth’s surface…many say N’Golo Kante covers the rest.
To celebrate his 28th birthday we give you a run down of all the stats you need to know…
Premier League Statistics
All stats courtesy of Premier League and Opta
Debut season – 2015/16
(Image: Getty)
Appearances: 37
Minutes Played: 3,020
Goals: 1
Assists: 4
Passes: 1,449
Successful Passes: 1,183
Shots: 21
Shots On Target: 5
Tackles: 175
Tackle Success Rate: 71%
Fouls: 43
Interceptions: 156
Recoveries: 326
Aerial Duals Won: 38
Yellow Cards: 3
1st place finish (Premier League title and Champions League football in first season)
Second season – 2016/17
(Image: PA)
Appearances: 35
Minutes Played: 3,139
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Passes: 2,122
Successful Passes: 1,884
Shots: 27
Shots On Target: 7
Tackles: 127
Tackle Success Rate: 65%
Fouls: 53
Interceptions: 82
Recoveries: 275
Aerial Duals Won: 19
Yellow Cards: 9
1st place finish (Premier League title and Champions League football in second season)
Last season – 2017/18
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Appearances: 34
Minutes Played: 2,998
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Passes: 2,150
Successful Passes: 1919
Shots: 25
Shots On Target: 5
Tackles: 113
Tackle Success Rate: 68%
Fouls: 41
Interceptions: 85
Recoveries: 312
Aerial Duals Won: 17
Yellow Cards: 3
5th place finish (Europa League Qualification in third season )
This season – 2018/19
(Image: Getty Images)
Appearances: 30
Minutes Played: 2,680
Goals: 3
Assists: 4
Passes: 1,816
Successful Passes: 1,600
Shots: 23
Shots On Target: 4
Tackles: 61
Tackle Success Rate: 56%
Fouls: 30
Interceptions: 37
Recoveries: 210
Aerial Duals Won: 25
Yellow Cards: 3
Chelsea currently sit in 6th place, 19 points off of top spot.
(Image: FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Overall Premier League record
Premier League Titles: 2
Appearances: 136
Minutes Played: 11,837
Goals: 6
Assists: 10
Passes: 7,537
Successful Passes: 6,586
Shots: 96
On Target: 21
Tackles: 476
Tackle Success Rate: 67%
Fouls: 167
Interceptions: 360
Recoveries: 1123
Aerial Battles Won: 99
Yellow Cards: 18
Red Cards: 0
International Statistics
(Image: REUTERS)
All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk
Kante made his debut for his country during an international friendly against Netherlands back in 2016, playing the second half of their 3-2 win. Following appearances and victories over Russia, Cameroon and Scotland prior to the UEFA Euro’s.
Kante played an instrumental part of their 2016 Euro’s campaign on home soil, where Les Bleus were defeated 1-0 in the final at the Stade De France.
Two years later during the World Cup in Russia, Kante played a part in all seven of their games on their way to World Cup glory at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Overall international stats:
World Cup Titles: 1
European Championship Finals: 1
Appearances: 38
Minutes Played: 2,861
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Yellow Cards: 6
