Ecuadorian club confirm signing of Corinthians left-back on loan

In partnership with

Central do Timão

·25 January 2026

Ecuadorian club confirm signing of Corinthians left-back on loan

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Throughout the night of last Saturday (24), left-back Diego Palacios, who has a contract with Corinthians until December 2027, was announced at Universidad Católica, Ecuador, on a one-season loan. In an official statement issued by the Alvinegro last week, a savings of R$ 2.6 million in the payroll is projected due to the player's new loan.

Diego Palacios was one of the first signings of the administration of the ousted president Augusto Melo at the beginning of 2024. At the time, the Ecuadorian arrived at Parque São Jorge for free after not renewing his contract with Los Angeles FC, from the United States, and with the expectation of becoming a starter, since Matheus Bidu had not established himself in the 2023 season, where he was a backup to Fábio Santos – in his final year of his career – in most matches.

OneFootball Videos

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

However, his time at Corinthians was not as expected. Right in his debut for the club, in January of that year, he suffered a serious knee injury in a match against São Bernardo, away from home, in the Campeonato Paulista. Since then, the left-back has dealt with various physical and muscular problems, undergoing more than one surgical procedure in the affected area, which generated internal conflicts within the Alvinegro’s medical department.

In two seasons with Corinthians, he played only four matches, being absent from the pitch from the end of January 2024 to the beginning of February 2025. With no space in the squad and as the last option at left-back, which at the time included Matheus Bidu, Hugo Farias, and Fabrizio Angileri – the latter has already left the club – he ended up being loaned to Karpaty, Ukraine, in August 2025. However, he also did not get a run there, playing only two matches in almost six months – the last one still in October of last year.

Besides Diego Palacios, Corinthians currently has the following players out on loan: center-back Félix Torres and midfielder Ryan, to Internacional and Fortaleza respectively, until the end of 2026, and right-back Léo Maná, loaned to Criciúma until July this year. Corinthians, even with the savings, will continue to pay part of the left-back’s salary.

See More: