Exciting Belgium Under 20 International Leaves Club Brugge

Exciting Belgium Under 20 international Romeo Vermant has left Club Brugge on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has been impressing in the second tier with Brugge’s B team, but he will now get a shot at the top flight following his loan move. He’s switched to KVC Westerlo, who are fighting against finishing in the relegation play-off spaces in the Pro League.

Vermant is a rising star in Belgian football and comes from solid stock. His father is Sven Vermant, a member of the 2002 World Cup squad who spent a chunk of his career in Germany with Schalke. As a result, Romeo was born in Germany but has represented Belgium at U16, U18, U19 and U20 levels. Both his grandfather and his great-grandfather also played for Brugge, making him a fourth-generation talent.

He has appeared for Brugge’s first team 11 times in the Pro League and twice in Europe this season, creating their only goal as they won 5-1 against KA Akureyri. However, his time playing for Brugge NXT, effectively the B team, has been impressive. He’s bagged six goals and chipped in with three assists, which has led to his first time away from Brugge.

Westerlo are struggling at the foot of the table, level on points with Molenbeek, who occupy the last relegation play-0ff place. De Kemphanen have played Brugge twice, the most recent encounter coming this weekend, with the former winning 3-0.

The young striker links up with coach Rik De Mil, who also has a long association with Brugge; the former goalkeeper spent nine years on the coaching staff at the Jan Breydel Stadium, and has only recently struck out as a coach on his own.

Site Opinion

This is a match made in heaven. Vermant is an exciting talent, and he’s proven that this season in the Challenger Pro League. He needs some regular football away from Brugge to continue his development, and that’s going to come in a comfortable environment.

Westerlo might not be a powerhouse of the Belgian game, but they do have an up-and-coming young head coach who Vermant will know well. Het Kuipje should be a comfortable place for the young man to showcase his skills and put in a claim for a starting place with his parent club next season.