Vermeeren leaves RB Leipzig despite Reitz's absence

In the training ground of RB Leipzig a tense silence prevails as the players learn of a surprising departure of their young midfielder. Despite Reitz’s injury, the 21‑year‑old Arthur Vermeeren is loaned to his youth club Royal Antwerp as a farewell, without a purchase option. The move comes after an uneven season in Germany and a short, unsuccessful spell in France.

Transfer Details

reports that Arthur Vermeeren moves from RB Leipzig to Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. The loan contains no purchase option, as stated in the report.

The 21‑year‑old midfielder thus returns to his youth club, where he took his first steps in professional football, before moving to Atletico Madrid in January 2024. There he was regarded as a mega‑talent before joining RB Leipzig in the summer.

Only half a year later Vermeeren moved to RB Leipzig, initially on loan for a season and then signed permanently last summer for €20 million. Expectations were high, but playing time remained limited.

Subsequently he was loaned directly to Olympique Marseille in Ligue 1, where he recorded 20 Ligue 1 appearances, but was unable to establish himself in the starting eleven.

Implications for the Red Bulls

That the Red Bulls let go of Vermeeren after the muscle injury of teammate Rocco Reitz is a bold move by the Red Bulls. While they have a suitable replacement in new signing Neil El Aynaoui and can also deploy Brajan Gruda in central midfield, the options behind them are already thin.

Ezechiel Banzuzi remains in midfield for now, while Assan Ouedraogo (shoulder) and Christoph Baumgartner (thigh) are sidelined due to injuries. The departure of the 21‑year‑old makes clear that the Vermeeren chapter in Leipzig will find it hard to reach a happy ending.

When the Belgian was brought in from Atletico, he was considered a mega‑talent; 29 Bundesliga appearances later it must be noted that the number six has not yet lived up to his former status. This brings the current episode of the Vermeeren adventure at Leipzig to an end. End