BBC
N’Golo Kante has purchased Belgian third-tier club Royal Excelsior Virton.
The France midfielder, 32, will take over from Flavio Becca as chairman of the club based near the Luxembourg border on 1 July.
It is the same date he will join Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al-Ittihad from Premier League Chelsea.
“Flavio is obviously extremely happy to be able to hand over the keys of the club to N’Golo Kante,” said the club in a statement.
“[He is] a player of great class, not only for his footballing qualities but also and above all for his unanimously recognised human qualities.”
The Belgian side are in the process of regaining their professional license, and will play in the Belgian National Division 1 in the 2023-24 season.
This division is two steps below the country’s top tier, the Belgian Pro League. No details have been released on whether Kante has paid a fee to purchase Excelsior Virton.
The club say they are debt free, and a board of directors will be set up in the coming days.
