Ex-Chelsea man N'Golo Kante has purchased lower-league Belgian club Royal Excelsior Virton after joining Al-Ittihad as a free agent.
"Kante's desire is to continue structuring the club's foundations, stabilize staff and rebuild the club through the academy teams," states the announcement. The France international is set to take charge of the 3rd division club from July 1.
The 32-year-old has joined the Saudi side after a quiet 2022/23 football season in the Premier League. According to a statement from Al-Ittihad, the agreement with Kante was officially concluded on June 20th, subsequent to the player undergoing medical examinations at a specialized medical center located in Dubai.
Reports indicate that the 32-year-old midfielder will receive an annual salary of approximately €86 million ($109.78 million) as part of his new contract.
Kante's teammates Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy have also completed their moves to Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, respectively. The next Chelsea player expected to make a move to the Middle East is Hakim Ziyech.