Damir Mišković, the longtime president and owner of HNK Rijeka, has sold the club to American billionaire Bill Foley, owner of the Black Knight Football Club group, marking the end of the most successful era in Rijeka’s history.

Black Knight Football Club already owns several European clubs, including Bournemouth (England), Moreirense (Portugal), Hibernian (Scotland, with a minority stake), Lorient (France, with a minority stake), and Auckland FC (New Zealand). Rijeka now becomes the sixth club within this global sports group. The transaction amount has not been officially disclosed. Still, Foley is known for his willingness to invest heavily, and guarantees have reportedly been made regarding new investments in Rijeka’s infrastructure and youth academy.

With the acquisition, Rijeka is expected to benefit from financial stability and a strategic approach, enabling the club to reduce its dependence on player sales, strengthen its academy, and continue its sporting growth and European ambitions. Foley, whose net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion, is well known for investing in sports across the U.S. and Europe, with his group reporting over $1 billion in profits in 2022.

Damir Mišković has withdrawn from all ownership and management positions at the club, concluding a chapter that brought Rijeka two league titles (2017, 2024), five Croatian Cups, and multiple appearances in European group stages. Rijeka is now entering a new era under the guidance of an international corporation, with new leaders expected to take charge in the coming weeks.

This takeover represents the beginning of a new chapter for HNK Rijeka, which, supported by significant investments, could further strengthen its position in Croatian and European football, attract talent from Foley’s other clubs, and aim for even higher achievements. Official announcements are expected soon, and changes in the club’s sports sector, academy, and management structure will become clearer as the transition unfolds.