Midfielder Kante, 33, played an influential role in France’s World Cup win in 2018 but has not represented his country since June 2022 and currently plays for Saudi club Al-Ittihad.

Kante struggled with injury towards the end of his spell at Chelsea, but France boss Deschamps says his experience will aid the squad in Germany.

“He has played a full season, albeit not in a European league, as he is in Saudi Arabia,” said Deschamps on French TV channel TF1.

“He’s back to full fitness. With his experience, I’m convinced that the French team will be stronger with N’Golo Kante.”

Paris St-Germain youngsters Warren Zaire-Emery, 18, and Bradley Barcola, 21, have also been selected after impressing for the Ligue 1 champions.

Teenager Zaire-Emery says he has been granted permission to sit his final school exams later than his fellow students in order to concentrate on achieving success with France.

“Very happy to be on the list, it’s one of the best competitions to play with France and I’m very happy and proud to represent my country,” said Zaire-Emery on TF1.

“I asked to be able to do it [exams] in September to be calm and focused on football.”

As well as such youth, Deschamps has also named star forwards Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in his squad, plus Arsenal defender William Saliba.

France are among the pre-tournament favourites as they look to claim a third European title after previously lifting the trophy in 1984 and 2000.

They begin their campaign against Austria in Stuttgart on 17 June.

France’s Euro 2024 squad

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris St-Germain), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Paris St-Germain), Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris St-Germain), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan)

Earlier this month, the midfielder ended his seven-year association with Chelsea to move to Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad.

The 2018 World Cup winner accepted a deal that is allegedly worth 10 times more than the contract that was offered to him by the Premier League outfit.

On Thursday morning, it became apparent that the 32-year-old had invested some of the money that he will receive over the coming years into becoming a football club owner.

Kante and associates of the Frenchman have agreed on terms to take control of Royal Excelsior Virton, who have just been relegated to the third tier of Belgian football.

R.E. Vitron finished in 12th place and bottom of the Challenger Pro League, only missing out on survival by a point, and Kante will be at the head of the rebuilding job at Stade Yvan Georges.

Kante takes over from Flavio Becca, the club saying in an official statement that the club has been relieved of all debt by their departing owner.

With regards to Kante, it added: “Driven by his passion for football, the will of N’Golo Kante is to continue the structuring of the club in order to consolidate its foundations, stabilize the staff and eventually reconnect with the tradition of training RE Virton, via its Youth Academy.

“The club aims to establish its local roots in order to become a driving force in football in Gaume and in the province of Luxembourg.

“Like N’Golo Kante, work, generosity, and humility will carry the ambitions of RE Virton for the coming years. With the desire to carry high the colors of Gaume, the province, and Wallonia, N’Golo Kante invites all the living forces of the territory to join a project which wants to be unifying and worthy of the supporters of Excelsior. Altogether, always higher.”

As per the statement, R.E. Vitron say that they are continuing their bid to acquire a professional licence, something which is currently being denied by the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA).

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The 32-year-old’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of June.

Kante has struggled with injuries and made nine appearances for Chelsea during the 2022-23 campaign.

He will join Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad after his fellow Frenchman left Real Madrid and agreed a three-year deal with them this month.

The move brings to an end a highly successful period in English football for Kante.

He helped Leicester City win the Premier League in the 2015-16 season before moving to Stamford Bridge. At Chelsea Kante won the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.

He was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for 2016-17.

He also played a key role as France won the World Cup in 2018.

Kante has signed a three-year contract with the club worth a reported £86m.

Kante joins Benzema and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.

Several high-profile players have been linked with a move to one of Saudi Arabia’s top sides.

But on Tuesday Spurs forward Son Heung-min said he did not want to move to the country, and earlier this month Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, turning down a more lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.

The France international, whose contract at Chelsea expires this month, has agreed a deal to 2025 worth €100m (£86m) a season with an option for a further year.

Al-Ittihad signed Karim Benzema from Real Madrid on Tuesday and are one of four Saudi clubs in which the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns 80% of Newcastle United, acquired 75% stakes this week. Al-Ittihad sent a delegation to London to speak to Kanté on Tuesday and persuaded him to join.

Kanté was close to signing a contract extension with Chelsea this year but the deal was not finalised. The 32-year-old has struggled with injuries and made nine appearances this season.

The money being paid to Kanté includes image rights, commercial deals and an investment portfolio. It is about half the salary earned by Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr last December.

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Chelsea’s Emma Hayes is on the shortlist for the women’s coach of the year award, along with ex-Barcelona boss Lluis Cortes and Sweden’s Peter Gerhardsson.

The men’s coach of the year nominees are Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel and Italy boss Roberto Mancini.

The three candidates for the women’s player of the year are Barcelona’s Champions League-winning trio Jenni Hermoso, Lieke Martens and Alexia Putellas.

It is the first time in the 11-year history of the award all the men’s player nominees have been midfielders.

Jorginho and Kante won the Champions League with Tuchel’s Chelsea, beating De Bruyne and Guardiola’s Manchester City in the final.

Jorginho also won Euro 2020 with boss Mancini.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski won the award last season.

Englishwoman Hayes led Chelsea to their fourth title in her nine years in charge and the Champions League final last season.

The winners will be named during the Champions League group stage draw ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday, 26 August.

This follows the club’s Champions League win over Man City on Saturday, May 30, 2021.

A win that threw fans of the club all over the world in an ecstatic mood.

Mr Bapube, who was beside himself with joy, presented a smock to Kante whose works many believed contributed greatly to Chelsea’s victory.

He took to social media to share the photos which captured the memorable moment, stating that he made the presentation on behalf of Chelsea fans in Ghana and beyond.

Kante gave off a warm smile as he poses with Mr Bapube for the camera while receiving the pleasant gift.

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In return of the honour bestowed upon him, the Chelsea star allowed the staunch supporter to have a feel of his medal from the match.

The smock was made of a blue fabric to reflect the colour of Chelsea with Kante’s name and the number 7 which he plays boldly inscribed at the back.