Chelsea and France midfielder N’Golo Kante has made a significant move in club ownership by purchasing Belgian third-tier club Royal Excelsior Virton. Effective July 1, the 32-year-old will take over as the chairman of the club, located near the Luxembourg border.
This coincides with his transfer to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Arabia Pro League from Premier League side Chelsea.
Excelsior Virton expressed their delight in handing over the reins of the club to N’Golo Kante, acknowledging his exceptional footballing abilities and outstanding human qualities.
The Belgian club is currently in the process of regaining their professional license and is set to compete in the Belgian National Division 1 during the 2023-24 season, two levels below the top-tier Belgian Pro League.
While no details have been disclosed regarding the financial terms of the acquisition, Excelsior Virton assures that the club is debt-free. A board of directors will be established in the coming days to facilitate the club’s operations under Kante’s ownership.
N’Golo Kante’s journey began in the amateur divisions in France before his talents were recognized by Caen in 2013. He played a crucial role in Leicester City’s historic Premier League triumph in the 2015-16 season before joining Chelsea.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Kante achieved success in the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup. He was also instrumental in France’s victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
This recent acquisition of Excelsior Virton adds N’Golo Kante to the growing list of professional players venturing into club ownership.
It follows the announcement of Wilfried Zaha’s partnership with rapper Stormzy to purchase AFC Croydon Athletic earlier in the week. Kante’s new role as chairman marks an exciting chapter in his career as he expands his influence in the world of football.
Source: BBC
