Fifa lifts transfer ban, Corinthians free to register new signings

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Central do Timão

·9 January 2026

Fifa lifts transfer ban, Corinthians free to register new signings

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

This Friday (9), Santos Laguna, from Mexico, sent a notification to FIFA which, on its website, confirmed the end of Corinthians’ transfer ban, meaning the club can now resume registering new signings. Last Thursday (8), the Alvinegro made a payment of R$ 41.6 million – including taxes – to the Mexicans regarding a debt for the signing of Ecuadorian defender Félix Torres, in January 2024.

The information was initially reported by journalist Samir Carvalho, from Canal Café do Setorista and confirmed by Central do Timão. Corinthians had been prevented from signing and registering potential new reinforcements since August 12, almost five months ago, when their appeal was denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and they were ordered to pay just over US$ 6.145 million (approximately R$ 33.4 million) for the purchase of the aforementioned player.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Given this, Corinthians is now looking to speed up negotiations to strengthen the squad and is expected to announce its first reinforcement in the coming days. This is Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista, 35 years old, who spent the last two years at Besiktas, Turkey. In addition, the club has other moves in the transfer market – click here to check them out.

Warning of possible further sanctions

After settling the issue with Santos Laguna, Corinthians still has other cases under review by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that could result in further sanctions. These include: 1 million euros (R$ 6.5 million) owed to Shakhtar Donetsk-UCA, related to the recent loans of midfielder Maycon, who is about to be announced at Atlético-MG.

There is also R$ 8 million for the signing of midfielder José Martínez, in mid-2024, from Philadelphia Union, USA. Added to this is R$ 6.26 million owed to Midtjylland, Denmark, for the purchase of midfielder Charles in mid-2024, as well as another R$ 32 million for the acquisition of midfielder Rodrigo Garro from Talleres, Argentina, two years ago.

Corinthians no longer appears among the Brazilian teams with a transfer ban on FIFA’s website: