BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Brooklyn FC today announced that Two Bridges Football Club will join as the official youth academy of the club, starting in 2024. Additionally, Executive Director of Two Bridges, Maximilian “Mack” Mansfield, has joined BKFC as President and CEO.

Two Bridges will continue to operate as an educational platform for inner-city student-athletes to excel in the classroom. The sporting side of the organization will rebrand as Brooklyn FC and participate in USL Academy programs in 2024, an elite platform that will allow BKFC academy players a development pathway to the first team.

For the past three years, Two Bridges FC has paved the way for player development in the New York City area. Operating with a progressive model that eliminates pay-to-play, TBFC operates solely from donations and government grants to serve over 100 players from U-15 to U-21 age groups. In addition to elite-level soccer training, TBFC provides ongoing academic support for players who excel in the classroom and opens doors to elite universities and professional clubs in Europe.

"It was always the goal to create a path to pro at Two Bridges, I just didn't think it would happen so quickly," Mansfield said. "When the Brooklyn opportunity came about, I didn't think twice. I know what it means to build something from the ground up, and being able to bring pro soccer to Brooklyn ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a dream come true."

"Two Bridges FC was built on inclusivity and to provide opportunity for New York City's most promising youth soccer talent regardless of socioeconomic background," North Sixth Group Chairman Matt Rizzetta said. "This investment in Two Bridges FC is an important first step in building Brooklyn FC's youth sector into one of the United States' first open-access academies where the best talent wins over the deepest pockets."

A resident of New York for over 25 years, Maximilian has seen first-hand the explosion of soccer across the tri-state area. After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in economics, Mansfield pursued a career in finance before pivoting into soccer full-time. Prior to Two Bridges, Mansfield launched The Fussball Project (TFP), a platform that supports American youth players with opportunities to play in Europe. To date, TFP has placed over 50 players into academies in Europe including multiple German Bundesliga programs like FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Düsseldorf. From there, Mansfield co-founded New Amsterdam FC in NISA before transitioning into the build-out of Two Bridges FC.

In his role as CEO of Brooklyn FC, Mansfield will oversee the club's operations across all verticals as he builds upon the current organization and revenue structure. His focus will be on strengthening the brand's product offering, expanding the fan base, extending community partnerships, and growing advocacy and engagement. In addition to his role as CEO, Mansfield will join the board of North Sixth Group's soccer portfolio including Italian clubs Ascoli Calcio and Campobasso FC, as well as Swiss club FC Locarno.

"I have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Mack as we have built our European clubs over the past several years and have been impressed by his knowledge of the game, work ethic and management skills," Rizetta said. "I cannot think of a better leader to manage the daily operations of Brooklyn FC and bring our vision to life."