Corinthians nears big-money defender sale to Arab side | OneFootball

Corinthians are close to announcing the transfer of 26-year-old center back Letícia Teles to Al-Qadsiah of Saudi Arabia for an estimated fee between 600,000 and 800,000 dollars (between R$ 3.1 million and R$ 4.1 million). The information was first reported by Meu Timão. If confirmed, the player could become the second-biggest sale in the history of Brazilian women’s football and the biggest in Timão’s history in the women’s game. Talks have been ongoing for a few weeks.

The center back has already said her goodbyes to the Brabas squad and club staff. Corinthians are expected to officially announce the player’s departure in the coming hours. Last Friday (28), Letícia Teles already underwent the medical examinations required to finalize her move.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians

The most expensive sale in the history of Brazilian women’s football is striker Amanda Gutierres, who moved from Palmeiras to Boston Legacy in the United States for R$ 5.9 million in October 2025. Letícia Teles’ deal surpasses the transfer of center back Tarciane, who left Corinthians for Houston Dash in the United States in April 2024 for around R$ 2.59 million.

Letícia Teles joined Corinthians at the start of last season after playing for Red Bull Bragantino for two seasons. Before that, she also played for Aliança-GO, Goiás, Tiradentes-PI and Minas Brasília. In total, she made 39 appearances in a Corinthians shirt (31 as a starter), with 30 wins, four draws and five losses — an 80.3% success rate. Her contract runs until December 2027.

This season, the No. 3 shirt had been used as an alternative to the starting center-back pairing of Thais Ferreira and Erika, both before Lucas Piccinato’s dismissal in February and after coach Emily Lima’s arrival. After Thaís Regina returned to action, she lost ground in the pecking order for the position.

Her last match for Timão came last Wednesday (26), in the Brabas’ 6-2 win over Taubaté at Alfredo Schürig Stadium, Fazendinha, in the seventh and final round of the first phase of the 2026 Campeonato Paulista Feminino. In that match, she started.

With Letícia Teles’ departure, coach Emily Lima will have the following options for the position: Thaís Ferreira, Thaís Regina, Erika, Agustina Barroso and Erika. The 26-year-old won two titles with Corinthians: the Brazilian Championship and the Libertadores, both in 2025.

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