RB Leipzig has loaned Arthur Vermeeren to Royal Antwerp FC. The 21-year-old Belgian midfielder returns to his homeland for a nine-month spell, the German Bundesliga club announced on Thursday.
Vermeeren had only returned to Leipzig in July from a loan spell at Olympique Marseille. His sole appearance this season was an 83rd-minute substitute cameo in the 3-0 season-opening win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. He replaced the injured Rocco Reitz. RB Leipzig sits third in the Bundesliga with three points and a +3 goal difference after that victory. The next match is on 5 September against Werder Bremen, as visible on our fixtures page.
What was Arthur Vermeeren's path to RB Leipzig?
Arthur Vermeeren initially joined Leipzig on loan from Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2024. The German club held a purchase option, which they triggered in January 2025 for a fee of 20 million euros. The then-coach Martin Demichelis backed the young Belgian. Vermeeren later established himself in the team under Marco Rose. His contract with RB Leipzig runs until 2029.
Before his move to Atlético Madrid, Vermeeren played for Royal Antwerp FC from 2018 to 2024. With that club, he won the Belgian Double of league and cup in 2023. His switch to Spain in January 2024 yielded just five La Liga appearances. The subsequent loan to Leipzig was intended to provide more playing time.
Why is Vermeeren being loaned out again now?
Plans for the midfielder shifted with the coaching change at RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025. Ole Werner took over the team and did not see a role for Vermeeren in his tactical setup. Instead, the Belgian was loaned to Olympique Marseille for the 2025/26 season, where he made 20 Ligue 1 appearances.
Upon his return in July, Vermeeren was not viewed as competition for Rocco Reitz's central midfield position. Reitz was unavailable for the season opener due to a thigh injury, with Christoph Baumgartner also currently sidelined, as listed on our injuries page. The loan to Antwerp is designed to give Vermeeren regular minutes under a familiar face.
What role does Marvin Compper play in this move?
The current head coach of Royal Antwerp FC is Marvin Compper. The former RB Leipzig player was active for the club from 2014 to 2018. Compper understands the club's philosophy and values Vermeeren's potential. This connection help the transfer.
For RB Leipzig, this is a pragmatic solution. The club can temporarily remove the player's salary from its books while giving him the chance to regain form and confidence. If Vermeeren impresses in Belgium, he could return with renewed motivation in the summer of 2027 or seek a permanent move. The current league standing and squad details can be checked on our standings page.
The loan of Arthur Vermeeren to Royal Antwerp FC lasts for nine months and concludes in June 2027.
