PROFILE | Discrete Arthur Vermeeren making big impact in Marseille’s midfield | OneFootball

Arthur Vermeeren is not a player who demands attention. Instead, he draws it quietly through control, intelligence, and an understanding of the game that belies the midfielder’s age. At just 20, Vermeeren already feels oddly familiar. Compared by Marc Overmars to both Xavi and Andrés Iniesta while still in Belgium, the midfielder’s rise has been rapid, if not always linear. A double-winning season with Antwerp, a difficult half-year at Atlético Madrid, and a brief reset at RB Leipzig preceded his arrival in Marseille on the final day of the summer window.Roberto De Zerbi had already been tracking the player when he was at Atlético Madrid, and he would finally get his unpolished midfielder on a loan-to-buy deal. Under Roberto De Zerbi, Vermeeren has been introduced gradually, but his influence has grown week by week alongside the immovable Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. His first European start against Ajax offered a glimpse of what he can become: dynamic, brave in possession, constantly available. Against Atalanta, despite defeat, he touched the ball 116 times – a team-high.

Vermeeren ‘the present and future’ of Marseille, says De Zerbi

Vermeeren’s appeal lies in his versatility. Comfortable as a deep midfielder or in a more advanced role, he combines calm ball retention with an impressive defensive work rate. Opta data shows him as one of Marseille’s most active players for tackles, pressing actions and ball recoveries, while his passing volume and accuracy reflect a player trusted to set the rhythm rather than accelerate it.

De Zerbi has been both demanding and protective. Early substitutions against Angers and Sporting CP highlighted the physical and mental adaptation still required, yet the Italian has repeatedly framed Vermeeren as central to OM’s future. “He is the present and the future of the club,” De Zerbi said at a press conference in December. The player himself is acutely self-aware. “I’m not yet the player I should be – I know I’m capable of more,” Vermeeren admitted recently before a Champions League clash against Union-Saint Gilloise. 

Marseille’s hierarchy are keen to make his loan permanent, viewing him as a long-term investment rather than a short-term solution. With Champions League exposure already part of his education, Vermeeren is learning the hardest lessons early. Yet the Belgian’s ceiling looks to be very, very high if the player can be well-nurtured.

GFFN | George Boxall