Vreven bound for Kaiserslautern

FC Utrecht defender Stijn Vreven will join Bundesliga side 1. FC Kaiserslautern at the end of the current season.

Three-year deal
The 29-year-old right-sided defender has agreed a three-year contract which will keep him at Kaiserslautern until June 2006, although the clubs have not revealed any details of his transfer fee. "I'm looking forward to joining a team with such a great tradition and I have already heard lots about their great fans," said the former KV Mechelen player who made his full international debut for Belgium in the 2-0 UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying defeat against Bulgaria last September.

'Sensational mentality'
Kaiserslautern coach Eric Gerets, who has led the club to the verge of Bundesliga safety after a fraught season in which the club was bedevilled by financial problems, added: "He has a sensational mentality. He's a team player and a real winner and, in my opinion, will fit in very well at Kaiserslautern."

Excellent run
Vreven's new club currently lie in tenth place in the 18-team Bundesliga, having hauled themselves off the foot of the table with an excellent run of results under the Belgian coach. With four matches to play, Kaiserslautern are not yet mathematically safe, but with seven points between them and the relegation zone, they look set to survive comfortably.

UEFA Cup prospects
They also have the prospect of a place in the UEFA Cup next season regardless of where they finish in the league having reached the final of the German Cup. With their opponents in the final, FC Bayern München, already crowned German champions, the UEFA Cup place allocated to the German Cup winners will go to Gerets' side regardless of who wins the final.