Arthur Vermeeren
{{Short description|Belgian footballer (born 2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Arthur Vermeeren
| image = Arthur vermeeren-1691915252.png
| caption = Vermeeren with Royal Antwerp in 2023
| full_name = Arthur Denis Vermeeren
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|2|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lier, Belgium
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = RB Leipzig
| clubnumber = 18
| youthyears1 = 2018–2022
| youthclubs1 = Royal Antwerp
| years1 = 2022
| clubs1 = Royal Antwerp II
| caps1 = 6
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2022–2024
| clubs2 = Royal Antwerp
| caps2 = 47
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2024–2025
| clubs3 = Atlético Madrid
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2024–2025
| clubs4 = → RB Leipzig (loan)
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2025–
| clubs5 = RB Leipzig
| caps5 = 13
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam1 = Belgium U17
| nationalcaps1 = 10
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2022
| nationalteam2 = Belgium U18
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2023
| nationalteam3 = Belgium U19
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2023–
| nationalteam4 = Belgium U21
| nationalcaps4 = 5
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2023–
| nationalteam5 = Belgium
| nationalcaps5 = 6
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 17:22, 17 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 11:48, 24 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Arthur Denis Vermeeren (born 7 February 2005) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the Belgium national team.
Club career
=Antwerp=
==2022–23 season==
Vermeeren made his professional debut for Royal Antwerp as a second-half substitute in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League at home in Antwerp at the Bosuilstadion in a 2–0 second leg win against Lillestrøm SK on 11 August 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/11/europe/uefa-europa-conference-league/royal-antwerp-fc/lillestrom-sportsklubb/3876673/ |title=Antwerp vs. Lillestrom 2-0|website=Soccerway}}{{Better source needed|date=August 2024}} He told the media after his debut that he could not imagine a better debut.{{Cite news|title=Droomavond voor Antwerps jeugdproduct Arthur Vermeeren (17): "Ik kon me geen beter debuut voorstellen"|url=https://gva.be/cnt/dmf20220811_97449964|newspaper=Gazet van Antwerpen|date=11 August 2022|language=nl}} He received praise from coach Mark Van Bommel who was quoted as saying “Arthur is a smart footballer, a fun guy to work with. He is eager to learn and show he can play. So he will get some playing time. He enjoyed it, I think. It's nice to see."{{Cite web|title=Conference League - Van Bommel: "Nous avons fait ce que nous devions faire"|url=https://wwww.lalibre.be/dernieres-depeches/belga/2022/08/11/conference-league-van-bommel-nous-avons-fait-ce-que-nous-devions-faire-JTANDCNKWZEPPMPPQDGIJKFBIE/%3FoutputType%3D|website=La Libre|access-date=11 August 2022|language=fr}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In April 2023, Vermeeren was a starter in the 2023 Belgian Cup Final as Antwerp defeated KV Mechelen 2–0.{{Cite web|first=Pieter-Jan|last=Calcoen|title=Na de Croky Cup is de sterke man van Antwerp niet voldaan: Paul Gheysens wil op álle vlakken de beste zijn|trans-title=After the Croky Cup, Antwerp's strong man is not satisfied: Paul Gheysens wants to be the best in all areas|url=https://m.hbvl.be/cnt/dmf20230501_96748011|website=HBVL.be|date=2 May 2023|access-date=3 May 2023|language=nl}} On 14 May, he scored his first goal for Antwerp in a 3–2 win over Club Brugge during the Champions' play-off.{{Cite web|title=Arthur Vermeeren's first professional goal completes dramatic Antwerb comeback|url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/arthur-vermeerens-first-professional-goal-completes-dramatic-antwerp-comeback-37484462|website=OneFootball|date=15 May 2023}}
==2023–24 season==
On 23 July 2023, Vermeeren was a starter in the Belgian Super Cup as Antwerp defeated KV Mechelen on penalty kicks.{{Cite web|title=Antwerp wint nu ook de Supercup! KV Mechelen plooit pas na strafschoppen|url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/belgische-super-cup/2023/finale/01/antwerp-kv-mechelen-antwerp-wint-nu-ook-de-supercup-kv-mechelen-plooit-pas-na-strafschoppen~1686136260794/|website=Sporza|date=23 July 2023|language=nl}} On 19 September, he made his Champions League debut in a 5–0 defeat against Barcelona.{{Cite web|title=Arthur Vermeeren: Why Barcelona, Arsenal & other European giants want Belgian teenager|url=https://www.90min.com/posts/arthur-vermeeren-why-barcelona-arsenal-want-belgian-teenager|website=90min|date=12 October 2023}} On 13 December, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–2 victory in the return leg against the same opponent.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67711181 |title=Royal Antwerp 3–2 Barcelona|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=13 December 2023}} Vermeeren was awarded Man of the Match for his performance and told reporters in the post-match interview: "Today, a dream came true. I am very happy and I hope I have made my family proud."{{Cite web|title=Antwerp-Barcelona: UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Group stage|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2039177--antwerp-vs-barcelona/|website=UEFA|access-date=27 January 2024}} Vermeeren ended his season at Antwerp with 8 G/A in 32 games in all competitions. Prior to his departure from the club, he made 64 consecutive starts across all competitions for the club, playing 99.4% of the available minutes during that run.{{Cite web|first=Thom|last=Harris|title=Five left-field European transfers you may have missed in the January window|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5243508/2024/02/03/five-transfers-that-you-might-have-missed-in-the-january-transfer-window/|website=The Athletic|date=3 February 2024}}
=Atlético Madrid=
On 26 January 2024, Vermeeren joined La Liga club Atlético Madrid on a six-and-a-half-year contract.{{Cite web|title=Welcome, Vermeeren!|url=https://en.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/welcome-vermeeren|website=Atlético Madrid|date=26 January 2024 |access-date=26 January 2024}} The deal reportedly included a €18 million transfer fee, with up to €5 million in add-ons, and Royal Antwerp keeping a 10% sell-on clause.{{cite news|title=All the details as Atlético Madrid confirm Arthur Vermeeren capture|url=https://onefootball.com/pt-br/noticias/all-the-details-as-atletico-madrid-confirm-arthur-vermeeren-capture-38942282|website=OneFootball|date=26 January 2024|access-date=27 January 2024}}
=RB Leipzig=
On 26 August 2024, Vermeeren joined Bundesliga club RB Leipzig on a season-long loan, with an obligation to buy once certain conditions were met.{{cite news|url=https://rbleipzig.com/en/news/2024-2025/transfer-signing-rb-leipzig-arthur-vermeeren-atletico-madrid-2024/|title=Prospect Arthur Vermeeren Joins RB Leipzig|publisher=RB Leipzig|date=26 August 2024|access-date=26 August 2024}} On 17 January 2025, Leipzig confirmed that the conditions had been met, and Vermeeren had joined the club permanently on a deal until 2029.{{cite news|url=https://rbleipzig.com/en/news/permanent-transfer-rb-leipzig-atletico-madrid-arthur-vermeeren|title=Arthur Vermeeren joins RB Leipzig on a permanent deal|publisher=RB Leipzig|date=17 January 2025|access-date=17 January 2025}}
International career
Vermeeren played for the Belgian youth teams, featuring for the Belgium U17 in the 2022 European Under-17 Championship.{{cite web |title=Fofana, Mawete, Monticelli : 3 pépites belges à suivre durant l'Euro U17 |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/fofana-mawete-monticelli-3-pepites-belges-a-suivre-durant-leuro-u17-10990251 |publisher=RTBF|date=12 May 2022|language=fr}} He debuted for the Belgian senior squad on 13 October 2023, coming off the bench in the 87th minute to replace Johan Bakayoko, in a 3–2 away victory over Austria during the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying.{{Cite news|first=Antoine|last=Bourlon|title=Toute l'Europe s'arrache déjà ce jeune Diable Rouge : "Le nouvel Iniesta"|url=https://www.walfoot.be/news/2023-10-14/toute-leurope-sarrache-deja-ce-jeune-diable-rouge--le-nouvel-iniesta|website=Walfoot|date=14 October 2023|access-date=8 August 2024|language=fr}} On 28 May 2024, Vermeeren was named in the 25-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.{{Cite news|title=25 Devils go to Euro 2024 |url=https://www.rbfa.be/en/news/25-devils-go-euro-2024|publisher=Royal Belgian Football Association|access-date=28 May 2024}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 17 May 2025|{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/arthur-vermeeren/792536/ |title=A. Vermeeren: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=1 September 2024}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="3"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Antwerp II
|6 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Royal Antwerp
|rowspan="2"|Belgian Pro League |26 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| 2023–24
|21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Belgian Super Cup}} | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!47 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 65 | 2 | |
| Atlético Madrid
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| RB Leipzig (loan)
|rowspan="2"|2024–25 |15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="2"|RB Leipzig
|Bundesliga |13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Leipzig total
!28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!86 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 115 | 3 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 17 November 2024|{{NFT|92616|access-date=2 December 2023}}}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="2"|Belgium
|2023 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total||6||0 |
|---|
Honours
Royal Antwerp
- Belgian Pro League: 2022–23
- Belgian Cup: 2022–23{{cite web |title=Geen schoonheidsprijs, wel een vierde beker: Antwerp maakt favorietenrol waar tegen KV Mechelen |url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/croky-cup/2022-2023/finale/01/kv-mechelen-antwerp-geen-schoonheidsprijs-wel-een-vierde-beker-antwerp-maakt-favorietenrol-waar-tegen-kv-mechelen~1664288888029/ |publisher=Sporza |language=nl |publication-date=30 April 2023}}
- Belgian Super Cup: 2023{{cite web |title=Antwerp wint nu ook de Supercup! KV Mechelen plooit pas na strafschoppen |date=23 July 2023 |url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/belgische-super-cup/2023/finale/01/antwerp-kv-mechelen-antwerp-wint-nu-ook-de-supercup-kv-mechelen-plooit-pas-na-strafschoppen~1686136260794/ |publisher=Sporza |language=nl |access-date=23 July 2023}}
Individual
- Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 2022–23{{cite web |last=Geypen |first=Diederik |date=18 January 2024 |title=Na 'Jonge Profvoetballer van het Jaar' is Arthur Vermeeren nu ook 'Belofte van het Jaar' |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20240118_97820034 |publisher=gva.be |language=nl}}
- Best youngster of the year: 2023{{cite web |date=18 January 2024 |title=Toby Alderweireld zet kroon op Antwerpse feestavond met Gouden Schoen, Tessa Wullaert wint vierde bij de vrouwen |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2024/01/18/toby-alderweireld-zet-kroon-op-antwerpse-feestavond-met-gouden-schoen-tessa-wullaert-wint-vierde-bij-de-vrouwen~1705565691541/?linkId=sporza%7Cvrtnws%7C%2Fvrtnws%2Fnl%7Cteaser |publisher=Sporza |language=nl }}
- {{Interlanguage link|Dominique D'Onofrio Award|nl|Prijs Dominique D'Onofrio}}: 2023{{Cite web |date=18 December 2023 |title=Arthur Vermeeren verkozen tot beste debutant in Belgische competitie |url=https://www.rtv.be/arthur-vermeeren-verkozen-tot-beste-debutant-belgische-competitie |website=rtv.be |language=nl}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.rbfa.be/en/international/10605/info Profile] at the Royal Belgian Football Association website
- {{UEFA player}}
{{RB Leipzig squad}}
{{Belgium squad UEFA Euro 2024}}
{{Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vermeeren, Arthur}}
Category:Footballers from Lier, Belgium
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Royal Antwerp F.C. players
Category:Atlético Madrid footballers
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Belgian National Division 1 players
Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers
Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Belgium men's international footballers
Category:UEFA Euro 2024 players
Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Germany