Bournemouth owner Bill Foley buys his second football club in a MONTH after acquiring a 33 per cent stake in Ligue 1 side Lorient as the American builds his multi-club ownership strategy to replicate Manchester City
Bill Foley and Black Knight Football Club has bought a significant stake in French club Lorient, one month after having taken over Bournemouth in a deal thought to be worth around £120million.
The Texas-born businessman is understood to have bought a 33 per cent slice of the Ligue 1 outfit, with a view to invest further at the end of the current season with a view to a full takeover being completed in the future.
Sportsmail exclusively reported that the American was in France on Wednesday to close up the deal, and the Cherries had been interested in a move for Lorient forward Dango Ouattara to bolster their attack.
Bill Foley and the Black Knight Football Club consortium acquired a significant stake in Lorient
The purchase will help Foley to progress his Manchester City-style multi-club ownership strategy, having taken control of Bournemouth in December and the American eyeing a swoop for a team in south America and even Belgium.
Following the successful acquisition, a statement was released in which Foley announced the ‘strategic partnership’ between the two sides and praised the French club.
‘We are excited to announce a strategic partnership and investment in FC Lorient today,’ read the statement.
The French side have had a strong start to the season in Ligue 1 and are currently in sixth spot
‘Loïc Fery has successfully built a best-in-class football club and will be a great partner as we build BKFE into a leading multi-club football operator.
‘I look forward to partnering with Loïc and his team to accelerate the success of FC Lorient and BKFE.’
The Black Knight Football Club consortium, which features American actor Michael B. Jordan, first took over Bournemouth on December 11 after Maxim Denim’s 11-year association with the club was ended.
Foley and his consortium, which includes actor Michael B. Jordan, took over at the Vitality Stadium on December 13, and now he is plotting a stake in Lorient for a multi-club model
Foley himself is thought to be worth around $1bn, and already…