Corinthians has decided not to finalize the preliminary agreement to renew Memphis Depay’s contract for two seasons, ending the Dutch striker’s journey with the Brazilian club and leaving him as a free agent available to join any team.
The decision came as a surprise, as both parties had reached an understanding on July 26. Depay had returned to Brazil and passed his medical examinations, and the new contract had been ready to sign for days after the player agreed to a salary reduction and modified bonuses.
Corinthians President Osmar Stabile justified the backtrack by citing the need to maintain the club’s financial stability. However, the failure to renew creates another crisis: outstanding dues owed to Depay amounting to 42 million Brazilian Reais, which could reach 77 million when factoring in interest, according to the club’s estimates.
Depay expressed intense anger at these developments, emphasizing that the renewal had already been approved by the president as well as the sporting, legal, and financial departments. He vowed to take strong action to protect his interests, refusing to let what he described as “unacceptable behavior” go unanswered.
According to the latest reports, the 32-year-old does not rule out continuing his career in Brazil, as four local clubs had reached out to his representatives during the renewal negotiations. He is now open to moving to one of Corinthians’ rivals after feeling undervalued.
Depay began his career with PSV Eindhoven before moving to Manchester United. He then regained his brilliance at Lyon, followed by spells at Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, before joining Corinthians in September 2024.
During his time at Corinthians, Depay made 79 appearances, scoring 20 goals and providing 15 assists. He helped the team win the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil in 2025, along with the Supercopa do Brasil in 2026.
