It’s the January transfer window, and Arthur Vermeeren is involved in one of the biggest permanent transfers of the current transfer window. Atletico Madrid are enjoying a good season, with Diego Simeone’s men sitting fourth in La Liga and made it to the round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League, where they’ll be playing Inter Milan.
To prepare for the second half of the season and the future altogether, the Madrid giants are closing in on the signing of Arthur Vermeeren from Belgian side Royal Antwerp after enjoying his breakout season with the Belgian club in the 2022/2023 season.
Who is Arthur Vermeeren?
Arthur Vermeeren has emerged as a rising star in Belgian football, and he made his professional debut for Royal Antwerp in a Conference League match against Lillestrom SK in 2022. The 18-year-old midfielder, hailing from Lier, had honed his skills in the club’s youth setup for four years before achieving his breakthrough in 2022.
Such was his talent that Dutch legend Mark Van Bommel couldn’t hold back his praise for the talented youngster, saying, “Arthur is a smart footballer and a fun guy to work with.
“He is eager to learn and show he can player. He will get some playing time. He enjoyed it, I think,” the ex-footballer-turn-coach said of the maturity and talent of Arthur Vermeeren.
Vermeeren’s impressive performances led to a starting role in the 2023 Belgian Cup final against KV Mechelen, where Royal Antwerp secured a 2-0 victory. This triumph marked the young midfielder’s first experience of winning a domestic trophy.
Just last year, Arthur Vermeeren was handed his debut in the Belgium national team, as he came off the bench to replace Johan Bakayoko in the EURO 2024 qualifying game against Austria, which ended in a 3-2 win for Domenico Tedesco’s side.
Vermeeren expected to join Atletico Madrid
News about Atleti’s interest in Arthur Vermeeren first broke a few days ago when Fabrizio Romano confirmed the story on his social media. Diego Simeone had sanctioned the club to go all-in for the 2005-born midfielder, who is now viewed as a long-term solution in the middle of the park.
Negotiations were rapid, and it only took a few hours before Romano provided an update on the transfer, claiming both clubs had agreed to a transfer fee, pending the player’s contract and a medical test.
Vermeeren was left out of the club’s game yesterday, with the manager confirming that the team didn’t want to take a risk by including a player in the middle of a transfer move.
“Atleti is a very good step for Arthur Vermeeren,” Mark Van Bommel, Antwerp’s manager, declared.
“It seems like a club that suits him for sure. The deal is not yet 100%, but we won’t take any risks tonight,” he added.
Atletico Madrid are in the middle of a mixed season, with the club still competing in three different tournaments, thanks in-part to the goal-scoring prowess of Antoine Griezmann. It is worth nothing that Griezmann recently surpassed the club’s all-time scoring record, and with new signings underway, he might find substantial help in the coming days.
