Arthur: who is Bayer Leverkusen's new flying full-back from Brazil?
Already a senior Brazil international, Arthur arrives at the BayArena as one of South America's most exciting prospects. But just who is the right-sided speedster set to light up the Bundesliga?
Stats correct as of 21 April 2023
Arthur
Age: 20 (born 17 March 2003)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Full-back
Country: Brazil (1 cap)
Key stats
When Leverkusen announced last April that they had agreed a deal to bring flying full-back Arthur to the BayArena on a five-year deal from America Mineiro, fans of the Bundesliga side were justifiably excited.
A native of Belo Horizonte, the 5'8" right-sided speedster has seen his star rise at an incredible rate since making his Brazilian Serie A bow at Coritiba in May 2022.
Having previously enjoyed a loan spell at Flamengo, Arthur returned to America to impress in the Campeonato Mineiro, where his pace and versatility won him plenty of plaudits.
Further appearances in the Copa do Brasil and Copa Sudamericana cemented his reputation as one of the young stars to watch, and Arthur was soon joining up with the Brazil U20s, where he went on to enjoy South American Championship glory last February. A senior international debut followed the next month.
Plays a bit like: Jeremie Frimpong
As a player that likes to motor down the flank and who boasts good close control and a willingness to take on his man, Arthur is not all that dissimilar to Bayer’s crowd-pleaser Frimpong. Exceptional in the transition, Leverkusen’s new man will be an exciting asset to Xabi Alonso’s counter-attacking specialists.
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Did you know?
Arthur was given his senior Brazil debut by the national team’s caretaker coach Ramon Menezes Hubner, who made 15 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen back in 1995/96. The young Brazilian was brought on as a late substitute in his nation’s 2-1 loss to Morocco at the Stade de Marrakech on 25 March 2023.
Menezes was Arthur’s coach when the Brazil U20 team went all the way to glory South American Championship the previous month, while the right-back would follow in his former coach's footsteps to become the 24th player from Brazil to play for Leverkusen - more than any other country except Germany. The long list of Brazilians to call the BayArena home includes the likes of Jorginho, Paulo Sergio, Ze Roberto, Lucio, Renato Augusto - all of whom made over 100 appearances for the club.
Watch: Common Ground Brazil - the Bundesliga has been redeveloping pitches in Arthur's homeland
What they're saying
"In addition to impressive pace, Arthur primarily has footballing finesse. He is agile, plays with maturity in defence and is impressive in attack." - Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes.
"I'm very proud to be able to play for Bayer 04. The club is well known and popular in Brazil and a lot of my fellow countrymen have become outstanding football players at Leverkusen. I'm hoping for that too and I will give my all to be successful with the club in the Bundesliga and also in European competitions." – Arthur
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