Lorient president Loïc Féry says club looking to keep Eli Junior Kroupi ‘for as long as possible’

Eli Junior Kroupi (17) has been one of the breakout stars of the Ligue 1 season, and whilst he continues to impress, FC Lorient are hoping to keep hold of the promising young forward for as long as possible. 

The France U19 international has four goals in 14 appearances for Les Merlus so far this season, as well as two assists. Kroupi is managing to stand out in a Lorient side that is collectively struggling. The club currently sit 16th in Ligue 1, and they therefore currently occupy the relegation play-off spot. They are just one point ahead of Clermont Foot, who sit in the relegation zone. 

Lorient’s end-of-season position could determine whether they keep players such as Kroupi, who will naturally garner interest should the Breton club make the drop to Ligue 2. Speaking ahead of Lorient’s 4-2 defeat to Olympique de Marseille on Sunday, the club’s president, Loïc Féry, has said that he is looking to keep Kroupi at the club for the foreseeable future. 

“He is completely involved in the Lorient project. He is someone who won’t immediately move on. We need stability […] he is overperforming relative to what we expected of him this year. The idea is to accompany him in his progression and provide an environment in which he can play a lot. He is a child of the club and we will try to keep him for as long as possible,” Féry told Prime Video Sport. 

Kroupi only extended his contract as recently as the start of July. The promising young winger’s deal runs until the summer of 2026.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle