Thomas Vermaelen

Profile Football Stars | Thomas Vermaelen | Vermaelen started his career in his home country with Germinal Ekeren, the which later changed its name to Germinal Beerschot after a merger. Thomas Vermaelen, is a Belgian footballer who plays for the Premier League club Arsenal and the Belgian national team.

Vermaelen joined the academy of Dutch club Ajax. It was however the only match he played during the season in the which Ajax won the Eredivisie championship. Performances That season resulted in a call-up to the Belgium national football team. Ajax won the Johan Cruijff Shield and another KNVB Cup Following the season and in 2007, They won the Johan Cruijff Shield for the second consecutive time. Following the departure of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in mid-season, Vermaelen served as captain of Ajax for the remainder of the 2008-09 season and he played mostly as a left-back.

Vermaelen joined Arsenal from Ajax for an initial fee of € 10 million (rising to € 12 million) on 19 June 2009, signing a four-year contract. After Kolo Touré surrendered the number 5 jersey to him upon joining Manchester City, Vermaelen, with William Gallas, Arsenal's central defense formed pairing. Vermaelen made his Premier League debut on 15 August 2009 in 1-6 away win against Everton, and scored in the 37th minute. He Became the 84th Arsenal player to score on Their debut. He then scored a brace against Wigan in a 4-0 victory. The game finished 3-0 to Chelsea.

He Became notable for being a goal scoring defender, due to his spectacular 25-yard left footed goal against Blackburn Rovers and many headed goals during the first half of Arsenal's 2009-10 season. Vermaelen finished the season with 45 games and 8 goals in all competitions under his belt. Vermaelen scored Arsenal's second goal in their 3-0 win over West Brom on 5 November. He also featured in the 1-1 draw with Fulham on 26 November, when he scored a 65th minute own-goal but salvaged a point with an 82nd minute equalizer for Arsenal. On 3 December, Vermaelen scored the second goal against Wigan to win the match 4-0. On 12 March 2012, Vermaelen scored the winner in the 95th minute against Newcastle United.

Personal information
Full name Thomas Vermaelen
Date of birth 14 November 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth Kapellen, Belgium
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Defender

Club information
Current club Arsenal
Number 5

Youth career
1999 - Germinal Ekeren
1999 - 2000 Germinal Beerschot
2000 - 2003 Ajax

Senior career
years Team
2003 - 2009 Ajax 94 (8)
2004 - 2005 RKC Waalwijk (loan) 13 (2)
2009 - Arsenal 57 (11)

National team
2005 - 2007 Belgium U21 11 (1)
2008 - Belgium U23 5 (0)
2006 - Belgium 34 (1)

Honours

Club
Ajax
     Eredivisie: 2003-04
     KNVB Cup (2): 2005-06, 2006-07
     Johan Cruijff Shield (2): 2006 to 2007

Individual
     PFA Premier League Team of the Year (1): 2009-10