Corinthians clear Memphis Depay to train, contract signing looms | OneFootball

After having his contract renewal with Corinthians approved by the Guidance Council (CORI), with only president Osmar Stabile’s signature remaining, forward Memphis Depay is expected this Tuesday (18) at 9 a.m. (Brasília time) at CT Dr. Joaquim Grava. The information was confirmed by Central do Timão. The new deal will be valid for another two years.

However, the No. 10 faces a bureaucratic issue, as his work visa expires this Thursday (20), the exact day of the clash against Rosario Central of Argentina in the second leg of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores Round of 16. Therefore, Timão needs to arrange an extension of the visa with the Ministry of Labor.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Corinthians Agency

For this to be done, the player’s new contract with Corinthians must be signed. If this process does not happen in time, it will take 15 days for the new document to be issued. The Corinthians president decided to take the matter to CORI based on the club’s bylaws, under which player transactions involving amounts above 40,000 minimum wages require prior approval from the body, which does not have veto power but instead serves in an advisory capacity.

Last Tuesday (11), Corinthians had even announced that the Dutchman’s contract would not be renewed, citing “financial health” issues. However, after negative backlash from the fans and outside pressure, Osmar Stabile reversed the previous decision and resumed talks to renew the No. 10’s contract.

Memphis Depay had been on vacation after playing in the World Cup with the Netherlands national team, which was eliminated in the Round of 32 against Morocco on penalties. Even without having played since then, the player has been keeping himself physically prepared, as he has been doing daily work with Diego Pereira, Corinthians’ fitness coach between July 2024 and April 2025, who worked with the player during part of his time at Parque São Jorge.

The No. 10’s contract with Timão had expired on July 31. The club from Parque São Jorge owes Memphis R$ 42 million in bonuses related to targets set in the previous contract. The idea is for the debt to be paid in four semiannual installments starting in February 2027.

Memphis Depay’s numbers for Corinthians

Signed in September 2024 after not having his contract renewed by Atlético de Madrid of Spain, Memphis Depay arrived at Corinthians and immediately played a key role in the team’s surge in the previous Brazilian Championship edition (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores qualifying stage), scoring seven goals and providing one assist in 11 matches in the national tournament.

Last season and at the start of this one, he was decisive in the club’s Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026) triumphs, totaling two assists in those finals and playing an important role in the earlier knockout rounds. Wearing the Corinthians shirt, he has 20 goals and 15 assists in 79 matches — 40 wins, 18 draws, and 21 losses — a 58.23% success rate.

Before playing for Atlético de Madrid in Spain and Corinthians, he had spells at PSV in the Netherlands — where he came through the ranks — Manchester United (England), Lyon (France), and Barcelona (Spain). He is the fifth-highest foreign goalscorer in Timão’s history, behind only Romero (67), Guerrero (54), Tévez (46), and Herrera (22).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.