Vermeeren arrived at Atletico in 2024 with a towering reputation. Dubbed the heir to Axel Witsel , the Belgian wonderkid was expected to be the next big midfield star for Diego Simeone's side. However, the 21-year-old failed to establish himself in the Spanish capital.
During the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, Vermeeren managed just five official appearances and a mere 159 minutes of Liga action. Unable to break into the starting XI, he eventually moved on to RB Leipzig and France before ultimately returning to his boyhood club, Antwerp.
Hidden transfer circumstances
Looking back at his sudden departure from Antwerp, Vermeeren acknowledges that things did not go to plan. Atletico paid €22 million (£18.5m) for his services, a fee largely driven by the Belgian club's financial difficulties at the time. The midfielder admits that the move to Spain was flawed from a sporting perspective.
"I don't think I necessarily made bad decisions," Vermeeren told Het Nieuwsblad . "Probably there were wrong decisions among them, but the circumstances, which few people are aware of, also played a part. Perhaps Atletico wasn't the right club, but at the time it seemed the best option, and I fully supported it."
Despite his lack of playing time, Vermeeren views his stint in Madrid as a crucial period of personal growth. He struggled to adapt to a new country and a new language, which took a significant mental toll.
"People don't see it that way, but my time at Atletico is when I learnt the most," he explained. "I barely knew anyone, I didn't speak the language and, on top of that, I wasn't playing. That turned into disappointment and anger, complaining about everything. As if it were everyone else's fault."
Moving forward from the experience
While Vermeeren's time on the pitch was forgettable, Atletico managed to minimise their financial losses. The Spanish club orchestrated a profitable exit strategy by sending him to Leipzig. The German side initially paid a €9m (£7.5m) loan fee, followed by a €16m (£13.5m) obligation to buy, allowing Atletico to recoup €25m (£21m) in total.
This season, Leipzig decided to loan him to Antwerp, where he has made two league appearances. His focus is now on helping his team secure the Belgian title for the first time since 2023.
