Black Knight Football Club Becomes Sole Shareholder of FC Lorient

Loïc Féry Joins BKFC Shareholder Group While Remaining President of FC Lorient.

Black Knight Football Club (BKFC) has become the sole shareholder of FC Lorient as part of a strategic agreement designed to strengthen the club’s long-term development in an increasingly competitive football landscape. Loïc Féry will retain his position as president of FC Lorient, a role he has held since 2009, and is also becoming a shareholder of BKFC alongside William P. Foley, BKFC’s managing member.

With more than $550 million in equity, BKFC provides FC Lorient with financial strength and strategic resources, and is building a unique football project on a global scale. By fostering collaboration between executives, the group optimizes each club’s strengths and performance in training, recruitment, and player development.

The group also emphasizes the experience of players and fans, and the importance of the bond forged with each community.

Within BKFC, FC Lorient joins an international group of clubs with strong identities, including AFC Bournemouth (England) and Moreirense FC (Portugal). The club will benefit from a wide range of resources, expertise and links with partner clubs, in particular AFC Bournemouth, with whom a relationship of trust has already been established.

This new phase of development will proceed with continuity, maintaining a shared commitment to cultivating the Merlus spirit.

This capital evolution of the club was presented to the DNCG (the French football regulator). Following this presentation, completion of the transaction has taken place in January 2026.

Loïc Féry

“Bill Foley’s numerous successes in professional sports have already been well demonstrated. They all reflect a rare understanding of local specificities, enabling him to pool expertise and establish a lasting presence on a large scale.

For more than two years, we have experienced and valued this partnership with BKFC, building synergies that take into account each party’s needs, strengths, and identity.

Since we signed our first partnership agreement in 2023, Ligue 1 has been reduced to 18 teams and other French clubs have strengthened significantly. In this particularly challenging economic context, our industry continues to evolve toward increasingly fierce competition, compelling us to adapt our model to meet new challenges. Joining BKFC represents a real opportunity to secure an ambitious future for the club, through a development strategy compatible with its DNA and its ties to the region.

My commitment to the group will allow me to influence this strategy by representing the Merlus with the same direction that has driven me for 17 years: securing the club’s place in the elite.”

Bill Foley

“We’re delighted to take the next step with FC Lorient, and to welcome Loïc to BKFC.

It is a great source of pride to contribute to the future success of a club celebrating its centennial.

By bringing together people, talent and networks, we’re building a competitive and attractive enterprise.

Our strategy is based on interactivity and mutual support, to build bridges that will benefit everyone’s development. With Loïc, we’ll make sure that FC Lorient continues to achieve success and we’ll focus on maintaining the enthusiasm of its fans.”

Press Availability

BKFC expects to hold press availability with Foley and Fery virtually in the coming weeks. BKFC will share timing and credential details once confirmed.

About Black Knight Football Club (BKFC)

The result of a partnership led by William P. Foley II and supported with a significant stake held by Cannae Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNNE), Black Knight Football Club has been building an international multi-club model for success at the highest level of world football since 2022. BKFC’s multi-club ownership strategy includes 100% stakes in AFC Bournemouth (England) and FC Lorient (France) as well as a majority stake in Moreirense FC (Portugal). In addition, the broader group has strategic affiliation agreements with Auckland FC (New Zealand), Orlando City SC (United States) and Kyoto Sanga (Japan).