The winter transfer window is ongoing, and clubs are fighting it out to get the best possible players available. Transfer mid-season generally involves far more complications, forcing clubs to try to sign unknown gems from minor leagues. Arthur Vermeeren of Jupiler Pro League side Royal Antwerp perfectly fits the bill for any such transfer.
The 18-year-old has been perhaps the best player in his team playing as the controller of their midfield. Vermeeren has been one of the few positives for the team in a season where they have been far from their best. His teammate Geroge Ilenikhena is already making waves and is being touted as one of the best young players in Europe.
These performances have now started to garner attention from the top clubs in Europe, with the possibility of a transfer looking very likely. Atletico Madrid are reported to be the front runners for the midfielder.
So, we look at how good of a player Arthur Vermeeren is.
Who is Arthur Vermeeren
Arthur Vermeeren was born on February 7, 2005, in Lier, a municipality located in the Antwerp province. His early career saw him appearing for many local clubs. However, his big breakthrough only came in 2018 when he was accepted into Royal Antwerp’s youth academy.
Vermeeren immediately made an impact at the club, impressing the coaching hierarchy with his incredible progress. His ascent was also noticed by the Belgian national team, which gave him a call-up to their under-17 side.
He would represent The Red Devils in the UEFA Euro under-17 championship, playing all three group-stage games.
These performances finally gave him his big break, and he was called to Royal Antwerp’s senior side at the start of the 2022-23 season. It was a trial of the highest order for the then 17-year-old. However, Veermeeren not only survived but actually thrived.
Data from xvalue shows that Vermeeren initiated 38 counterpressing actions, the second-best in the team. He also completed the fourth-most successful dribbles, won the second-most tackles, and fifth-most interceptions to end the season on a high.
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Arthur Vermeeren stats
This season, however, has been the real coming of Vermeeren, with the playmaker being Antwerp’s best player. The teenager has three assists, which is not good, but when you see that he has created 27 big chances, you know that the team’s finishing has greatly diminished his creativity.
The midfielder had also initiated 34 counterpressing actions, the most in the team. He has also completed the second most successful dribbles in Antwerp’s squad.
⚪️🔴🇧🇪 Arthur Vermeeren, one of the names on Atlético Madrid list as he’s been scouted multiple times.
Understand Atléti have made contact to be informed on conditions of Vermeeren deal.
Several clubs are keen on signing Belgian top talent.@MatteMoretto 🤝🏻 pic.twitter.com/pVij4lbfF8
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 21, 2024
All the aforementioned stats are offensive, and this is not the only area where he shines. The Belgian has also won the third-most tackles and second-most interceptions in the team.
And while these stats may have come in the Belgian league, we must remember that he is only 18 and has already shown signs of being a world-class box-to-box midfielder.
Arthur Vermeeren style of play
The best role that describes Arthur Vermeeren is a ‘box-to-box playmaker’. While he can play both as a defensive and central midfielder, Vermeeren’s best comes at the latter position. His heatmap for this season shows his massive presence in the central and right side of the pitch, especially in the inside right channel.
Since Antwerp alternate between a three-man and four-man backline, it changes the roles of Vermeeren from game to game. When playing with a three-man backline, he forms a partnership with his wingback to create overloads in the inside channel on the right side of the pitch.
However, when he operate in a two-man midfield his area of influence becomes centre of the pitch, It is the smoothness with which he can alternate between these two roles that is attracting clubs from across Europe.
Arthur Vermeeren potential
If a player is 18 and being chased by clubs such as Atletico Madrid, it already proves that a player is talented. And Vermeeren’s style perfectly suits Atletico Madrid’s way. Diego Simeone always wants midfielders who have the tenacity to play a physical game. The Belgian has got that on top of being creative, which, in this case, is a massive bonus for Atletico.
Vermeeren has also has excellent defensive awareness and is rarely caught off guard by the opposition’s counter attacks. And a player like that, with the backing of an Atletico defence, will become a player that can dominate the midfield.
There will remain a question of whether he can handle the gulf in quality between the Spanish and Belgian league, but in the hands of Simeone there, the teenager has the best chance of becoming the player that can be a star for both club and Belgium.