The Belgian midfielder seeks to rediscover his title-winning form through a straightforward temporary move, providing quality to his former club while Leipzig retains control of his future.
Arthur Vermeeren is heading back to where his professional career began.
The Belgian midfielder is set to return to Royal Antwerp on loan from RB Leipzig, with the final details between the two clubs to be completed before the agreement is signed. The move represents a return to familiar surroundings for Vermeeren, who established himself at Antwerp before leaping into European football.
The loan will run for the remainder of the 2026-27 season and, crucially, will not include either a purchase option or an obligation to buy. It is therefore a straightforward temporary move, allowing Vermeeren to return to Belgium without Antwerp committing to a permanent transfer.
The agreement is similar in structure to Conrad Harder's loan move, with Leipzig retaining control over the player's long-term future.
The move was confirmed by RB Leipzig after the Belgian transfer window remained open beyond the deadline in Germany. Vermeeren will spend the rest of the campaign back at the club where he first made his name in senior football.
For the 21-year-old, the return to Antwerp offers an opportunity to rebuild momentum after a difficult period since leaving Belgium.
Vermeeren broke through at Antwerp as a teenager and quickly became one of the most highly regarded young midfielders in Belgian football. He played a key role in the club's historic 2022-23 campaign, helping Antwerp win both the Belgian league title and Belgian Cup before earning a move abroad.
Atlético Madrid won the race for his signature in January 2024, but Vermeeren struggled to establish himself in Spain. Just months later, he moved to the Red Bull Arena on loan, with the German club eventually making the transfer permanent after meeting the conditions of the original agreement.
His time in Germany, however, has not developed as expected. After making 41 competitive appearances for the Red Bulls, Vermeeren spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Marseille, looking for the regular playing time that had proved difficult to find in Germany.
Now he returns to Antwerp with something to prove.
The decision also gives Vermeeren the chance to work under a familiar footballing environment while playing regularly at a club that already understands his strengths. Antwerp will hope that his return can provide quality and control in midfield, while Vermeeren will be looking to rediscover the form that once made him one of Belgium's most exciting young talents.
The fact that Leipzig have not included a purchase clause is significant. The German club clearly continues to regard Vermeeren as an asset whose future remains open beyond the current season. Rather than permanently cutting ties, Leipzig are giving their midfielder another opportunity to develop away from the pressure of competing for a place in their squad.
For Antwerp, meanwhile, it is a major coup and an emotional reunion.
Vermeeren left the club as one of Belgian football's brightest prospects. He now returns at 21, with experience in Spain, Germany, and France, but is still searching for the consistency that made him such a coveted player in the first place.
The final formalities are now being completed. Once the paperwork is signed, Vermeeren will officially begin the next chapter of his career back at the Bosuil.
This time, the objective is clear: play, rebuild and remind everyone why Antwerp once believed he could reach the very top.
