The 27-year-old is fellow Dutchman Rutten’s maiden signing after the former PSV, Feyenoord and FC Twente boss replaced Brazilian Caio Junior at the end of the Arabian Gulf League season.
Boymans agreed a three-year deal with the Hawks earlier this month, but was pictured on Twitter Friday putting pen to paper with the side that finished fifth in the AGL last season.
A statement on the official Utrecht website on Friday confirmed the move.
Technical manager Erik ten Hag said: “With the departure of Ruud we lose scoring ability. Besides a guarantee of goals, we are going to miss the energy he tapped into our team and the constant threat to the opponent. Nevertheless, we have contributed to his desire to take this opportunity.
“We thank Ruud for his efforts and wish him every success and enjoyment to at his new club.”
It is hoped the marksman will add much-needed firepower to a Hawks side that suffered a chronic lack of goals last season. Despite finishing fifth, Shabab netted just 34 times in 26 AGL games. Only relegated Al Shaab (22), Sharjah and Dibba Al Fujairah (both 32) scored less goals than Shabab.
Bar an injury-disrupted two seasons at Utrecht, Boymans has proved largely lethal during the last three years. At previous club AZ Alkmaar he netted three goals in seven appearances on loan at NEC in the 2013/14 season before adding an eye-catching 27 goals in 36 appearances for Willem II during the same campaign.
A switch to Utrecht yielded 19 goals in 24 league matches in the last two campaigns with Boymans only fit to start just 15 times in the Eredivise during that period. Boymans could also be joined at Shabab by another Utrecht player, Nacer Barazite, with reports suggesting he is also in talks with the club.
