Arthur Theate

A Belgian centre-back who overcame rejection by multiple academies to become a full international, moving through KV Oostende, Bologna, Rennes and Eintracht Frankfurt, earning 33 caps for Belgium.

After being turned away from several Belgian youth academies including Genk and Standard Liège, Theate broke through at KV Oostende in 2020, convincing coach Alexander Blessin of his abilities within a week. His performances earned him a move to Bologna in 2021 and then to Rennes in 2022 for €20 million, briefly making him the most expensive Belgian defender ever.

He joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in August 2024, with the deal converted to permanent in February 2025. He made his Belgium senior debut in November 2021 and became a regular in the squad, featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.