United Vansen to hold 98% share of ADO Den Haag after the takeover

China's United Vansen International Sports Corporation said on Friday that they have almost finished the purchase of Dutch soccer club Alles Door Oefening Den Haag.

"We have almost completed the investment," said the company's board chairman Wang Hui. "A few more steps of purchase will have to be done in the future couple of weeks, but that won't be long."

The club's 98 percent of shares will go to United Vansen after the takeover. The Dutch club is marking its 110-year anniversary next week, and it was the first time for the club to be invested in by foreign companies. However, the financial details of the investment remain unknown to the public.

"Now it was a time to grow the club further and the current owner does not have enough investment to foot the bill," ADO Den Haag CEO Maarten Fontein told Xinhua.

"So it was very good for the club that United Vansen was interested to buy ADO Den Haag," he added.

ADO Den Haag had won the Dutch league in 1942 and 1943, but seven years ago the club faced severe financial problems which might had led to bankruptcy.

The club recorded 17 points in the first 18 rounds of the 2014-2015 season, sitting in the 14th place in the 18-team Eredivisie.

"For this season our goal is ADO Den Haag will stay in the league," said Fontein, "and I hope we will be able to buy a player to achieve that goal.

"For the rest of the season my goal is to set the organization and develop the organization in the right way."

United Vansen had organized the Italian Super Cup in Beijing for three seasons, and the company had also brought the French Super Cup to China in August 2014.

"It's an opportunity for United Vansen to play a part in one of the top leagues in Europe," said Wang. "Hopefully, the investment will consequently help the development of Chinese soccer."

According to the contract, ADO Den Haag will help train Chinese coaches and young players after the purchase is completed.

"The first priority is the exchange of coaches, so we need to get Chinese coaches to Holland to our youth academy, because we would like to implement our philosophy in China," said Fontein. "We need to start from coaches to coaches."

"The club culture will remain, and I have great faith in Chinese ownership," he added.

Origianal title by Xinhua: ADO Den Haag closer to Chinese takeover