Derby County have taken their development plans into Europe with the formalisation of links with Dutch side FC Utrecht.

Talks between officials of both clubs have been ongoing for a few weeks ahead of the deal being tied up ahead of Monday night's game against Arsenal.

Representatives from Utrecht were present at the Premier League encounter and they will be back in pre-season when the two teams meet in a friendly at Pride Park Stadium.

Adam Pearson, the Rams' chairman of football, said the links would help both clubs benefit both on and off the field.

He explained: "For us it is a great opportunity to tap into the experience and knowledge available in Dutch football.

"They are world-renowned for their technical expertise in coaching and training, particularly with younger players.

"We will be getting our coaches over there and getting our younger players from the Academy over there as that will be a great experience for them.

"Both clubs will be tapping into each other at all levels.

"FC Utrecht is a very well-run club with similar ambitions to ourselves so I think the two clubs will tie in well."

Pearson was also quick to praise Bill Green, head of the Rams' scouting network, for his efforts in helping to forge the links.

He added: "Bill goes back a long way with the guys from Utrecht.

"He was very keen to put the deal together and it's something that Paul Jewell and I are both very pleased to endorse.

"Bill has done a lot of work in looking at opening up as many networks and opportunities abroad for us as possible.

"We think we have got things to learn so this is a good opportunity for us."

It is envisaged that the link, which will initially run for two years, will give both clubs the opportunity to learn from each other's working practices to develop further commercial opportunities, as well as the footballing benefits.

Utrecht, with a population of a little less than 300,000, is the fourth-biggest city in Holland.

Its football club has just finished tenth in the Eredivisie and face a play-off match against either Feyenoord or FC Groningen for a UEFA Cup spot next season.

Jan Willem, the club's chairman and general manager, is looking forward to the two clubs working together.

He said: "This is a new experience for us but it is going to be good for both clubs.

"Utrecht is city number four in Holland but FC Utrecht is not club number four and we would like to develop further.

"Derby is a similar club and with this cooperation we can learn both on the technical side and on the commercial side.

"In Holland we have a very good youth academy and I hope we can both get the benefits from that."

And Willem added his hopes for the fans of both clubs embracing the tie-up - creating more support in England and Holland.

"We already have fans in England so of course they can become Derby fans, and of course Derby fans can become FC Utrecht fans," he said.

"English football is very popular in Holland and we are very pleased to be cooperating in this way."

FC Utrecht's official club website - in English - can be found at www.fcutrecht.nl/en/home.

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