It had been clear for some time that there was an intention to work together, but today Maastricht's football club MVV Maastricht announced that it is complete: the club will join forces with 'neighbour' Fortuna Sittard in women's and girl's football.

The clubs complement each other: Fortuna has a senior team, which  finished third behind Ajax and FC Twente this year. There is also a Sittard-based promising team. At the MVV Maastricht training grounds in Geusselt, there is an under-17 girls' youth team. The intention is that the ladies trained in Maastricht will eventually join Fortuna when they progress to the seniors.

Ron Elsen, manager of the MVV Academy (youth academy) is delighted with the development: "This collaboration is a unique step for women's [and girl's] football in Zuid-Limburg. With this, we are definitely going to give an impetus to its further development."

Next season, the women's youth team will play in the premier league under the name MVV/Fortuna MO17. The club from Sittard will co-invest in a head coach, they will also provide extra support with clinics and internship training.

Read the original article in Dutch