Grasshoppers Zurich sold to Hong Kong company owned by Wolves owner’s wife

Swiss side Grasshoppers Zurich have been bought by the newly founded Hong Kong-based Champion Union HK Holdings, headed by Jenny Wang Jinyuan. Wang is the wife of Fosun and Wolverhampton Wanderers owner Guo Guangchang.

Wang, who is in charge of the non-profit Fosun Foundation, joins the Grasshoppers board having taken over a 90 per cent stake in Switzerland’s most successful football club from former owners Peter Stuber and Stephan Anliker. No fee has been disclosed for the sale.

The other 10 per cent will be controlled by the newly established Grasshopper Football Foundation, which “will have a say in all issues that affect the club's identity” and “also preserve the Zurich character of the club”, according to Stuber.

“Stephan Anliker and I were looking for an investor who would not only support Grasshopper Football AG in the long term,” Stuber said in a statement confirming the sale, “but also ensure that GC football was anchored in Zurich.

“The new investor made a well-considered strategic decision and has made a strong financial commitment, the goal is to bring GC football back to success.”

Former Uefa Champions League regulars Grasshoppers were relegated from the Swiss Super League last season to the second-tier Challenge League amid fan protests, with a number of matches abandoned.

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“Our long-term goal is to experience high quality football at European level in the new Credit Suisse Arena,” Stuber added.

Plans for a new US$50 million, 20,000-seater stadium were approved by Zurich residents in 2018 although another petition against the ground was published last year. It is hoped that the new stadium will be completed for the start of the 2022-23 season.

The purchase of the club by Wang has led to speculation in Swiss media that there will be links between Grasshoppers and Fosun-owned English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the possible influence of Portuguese “super agent” Jorge Mendes. Fosun own 15 per cent in Mendes’ Gestifute agency through a subsidiary.

It has been stated that the clubs have no official link as yet, although two members of staff have already left the Molineux side for Grasshoppers.

Sky Sun has become chairman at the 27-time Swiss champions after resigning from the Wolves board.

Sun has been joined by Bernard Schuiteman, the English Premier League club’s chief European scout, who has become the sporting director.

He replaces former Grasshoppers player Fredy Bickel, who has left his dual role as sporting director and managing director after six months.

Wolves and Grasshoppers have had player links with 17-year-old defender Christian Marques joining the English side last March, where he now captains the under-23s in the Premier League 2. Wolves also sent defender Ed Francis on loan to Zurich in January.

The new owners will have to wait to see their side in action. The Swiss league called football off on February 28 and will not return until at least April 30, while the club suspended training until April 19.

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Grasshoppers are third in the Challenge League standings level on points with second placed Vaduz but 15 points behind leaders Lausanne Sport after 23 games of the campaign.