Official | RB Leipzig loan Arthur Vermeeren to Marseille with fees and options | OneFootball

RB Leipzig midfielder Arthur Vermeeren’s loan out to Olympique de Marseille has been officially confirmed. Sport Bild and Sky Germany report that the Bundesliga outfit has secured a €3m loan fee as part of the deal. The arrangement also contains a purchase option totaling around €23m with bonuses included.

Vermeeren is one of two Leipzig professionals recently linked with a move to Marseille. In the case of Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruida, Kicker and other reliable German footballing media sources report that the second transfer may be confirmed soon. It remains unclear as to whether Geertruida will be loaned or purchased.

Vermeeren now heads to his fourth country in just 18 months. The 20-year-old’s professional journey has taken him to Belgium, Spain, Germany, and now France since he moved from Antwerp to Atletico for €20m in the January 2024 transfer window.

Vermeeren was supposed to serve as a long term pillar under the head coaching regime of Marco Rose in Leipzig, but fell out of favor under new RB head coach Ole Werner during summer training camp. Austrians Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager moved ahead of him on the team depth chart.

“Arthur is a highly talented young player who needs playing time at his age,” RB sporting director Marcel Schäfer noted in a club statement. “That’s why we have found a solution together with Olympique Marseille that will allow Arthur to continue working on his development at the highest level and compete in Europe next season. We wish Arthur all the best during his stay.”

GGFN | Peter Weis