Royal Antwerp FC secured two significant signings on the final day of the transfer window. The club welcomed defender Álvaro Cortes from FC Barcelona and brought midfielder Arthur Vermeeren back on loan from RB Leipzig.
Álvaro Cortes signed a four-year contract with Antwerp on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Spaniard arrives from FC Barcelona, where he came through the academy and made his first-team debut. Antwerp pays around 3.5 million euros for the centre-back, a figure below his estimated market value of four million. Barcelona retains a percentage of any future sale.
Arthur Vermeeren returns to the Bosuil on loan from RB Leipzig. The midfielder underwent his medical tests with the Great Old on Thursday. Vermeeren left for Leipzig last season but now gets the chance to earn playing time at his former club. His return is an emotional moment for the fans who saw him break through.
The new arrivals come as Antwerp sits ninth in the Jupiler Pro League with seven points from four matches. The team has won twice, drawn once, and lost once, with a goal difference of plus one. Recent results show inconsistency with the sequence LDWW. Antwerp currently trails leaders Charleroi by five points.
Coach Marvin Compper will welcome the added squad depth after a difficult pre-season. The club faced delays due to takeover issues, impacting transfer activity and the appointment of a new manager. Despite a strong start with wins over Beveren and Kortrijk and a comeback against Genk, a 4-1 defeat to STVV followed. That result highlighted the need for reinforcements.
The arrival of Cortes addresses a direct need for an additional central defender. He was spotted in the stands last Sunday during the match against STVV. The young Spaniard brings experience from a top club's youth system and should increase defensive options. His adaptation to Belgian football will be a key point of focus.
Antwerp has scored ten goals this season but has also conceded nine. The defence needs to become more solid, especially with the upcoming away match against Standard Liege. That opponent is sixth and the game takes place on 5 September 2026. The full schedule is on our fixtures overview.
Vermeeren's return gives coach Compper more choices in midfield. The young Belgian was a regular before his departure and knows the club and league well. His technical qualities and passing could improve Antwerp's play. It's a chance for him to get his career back on track after a less successful season in Germany.
Antwerp's squad is now complete for the coming months. The next test is the away match against Standard, an important fixture in the battle for the upper regions of the table. The current standings can be followed via our standings page. Cortes has signed a contract until the summer of 2030.
