Los Angeles FC has completed the sale of Swiss club Grasshopper Club Zürich to Bridge Football Group, bringing an end to an 18-month ownership period marked by sporting struggles and financial pressure.
Bridge Football already operates FC Den Bosch in the Netherlands, Shaanxi Union FC in China and Pro Vercelli in Italy. The group is led by Ludovic Delechat, a former FIFA legal executive.
The deal gives Bridge Football control of more than 96% of the club. Financial terms were not disclosed. Both parties said the sale followed a competitive process involving more than a dozen interested investors.
LAFC ultimately selected Bridge Football due to its long-term plan focused on stabilising the club, protecting its historic identity and investing in sporting performance. The transaction was advised by Markham Capital and Sports Advisory.
LAFC acquired Grasshopper in 2024, but the project quickly ran into difficulties. The club spent two consecutive seasons battling near the relegation zone, triggering supporter unrest and raising questions over long-term sustainability.
Grasshopper, founded in 1886 and 27-time Swiss champions, last won the league in 2003.
In April, LAFC warned that without continued capital injections, the club would not be able to operate at professional level.
Grasshopper shares the Letzigrund Stadium with FC Zürich, in one of Swiss football’s most intense rivalries, defined by sharply contrasting supporter cultures.
FC Zürich is traditionally linked with a working-class fanbase, while Grasshopper has long carried a more establishment-associated identity. Bridge Football now takes over a project aimed at stabilising the club and restoring top-flight competitiveness.