Thomas Vermaelen

Thomas Vermaelen is a Belgium international football player who currently features for the English and European giants Arsenal. He plays as a central defender and is rated as one of the best in his position in the world. Vermaelen can also play as a left-back.

Vermaelen developed at the famous youth academy of Dutch giants Ajax and his debut for the first team in February 2004. After playing on loan for RKC Waalwijk in 2004-05, he returned to Ajax and soon established himself as a first-team regular and

He played for the Amsterdam club until 2009, scoring eight goals in 98 league matches. Vermaelen won the Eredivisie title with Ajax in 2003-04, the KNVB Cup in 2006 and 2007 and the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2006 and 2007.

In June 2009 Arsenal snapped up Vermaelen from Ajax for an initial transfer fee of €10 million on a four-year contract. He soon settled into life in the Premier League and established himself as one of the best central defenders in the English top flight, and was named the captain of the Gunners ahead of the 2012-13 season.

Vermaelen made his international debut for Belgium against Luxembourg in March 2006 when he was just 20 years of age. In October 2009 he was named the captain of his national team. Vermaelen has played over 35 international matches for Belgium.