UTRECHT, Apr 2 (SW) - Dutch Eredivisie side FC Utrecht received a significant financial injection as a local businessman announced to be buying half of the shares.

Frans van Seumeren, owner of Frans van Seumeren Holding BV, will be paying sixteen million Euros in exchange for 51 percent of the team's shares.

The investor plans to stay attached to the club for the coming ten years.

Club chairman Jan Willem van Dop is positive about the news: "This offers us a chance to improve the club and invest in things like scouting and youth."

Van Dop also said that the investment guarantees that FC Utrecht will keep its identity and culture, as the investor is an Utrecht citizen himself.

With three matches to go in the Eredivisie, Utrecht occupy the ninth spot. This would be enough to participate in the Dutch UEFA Cup play-offs.