Will Payet sign for a new club? The latest on the former Vasco star | OneFootball

Six months after terminating his contract with Vasco, Dimitri Payet has yet to announce his retirement and has not signed with any new club. The Frenchman, now 38 years old, has only appeared in the news sporadically since his turbulent departure from Rio de Janeiro in June, when the club officially announced the early end of his contract.

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Payet in action for Vasco — Photo: Richard Callis/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

Legal Proceedings in Brazil

While still at Vasco, Payet became a defendant for psychological violence against lawyer Larissa Ferrari, with whom he had an extramarital relationship. The Public Prosecutor's Office accuses him of causing emotional harm to the victim through “insulting and degrading attitudes and expressions, humiliation, manipulation, and ridicule.”

In August, Larissa's legal team requested an amendment to the complaint to include alleged crimes of bodily harm and sexual violence, as well as new details about dates and episodes that, according to the lawyers, would prove coercion.

The Public Prosecutor's Office's opinion on the request was published on December 4. In the document, the Prosecutor's Office states that it is still necessary to await the criminal proceedings to further investigate the facts and that, so far, there is not enough evidence to add charges related to sexual violence. However, the agency notes that the complaint may be updated in the future if evidence arises during the investigation.

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Payet, Zidane, and Ribéry at a Kings League event — Photo: Reproduction

The lawyer's defense team had also requested a protective measure, but the Paraná Court of Justice denied the request in September, citing a lack of imminent risk and absence of direct threat from the player.

Life and Routine in France

Back in his home country, Payet has kept a low profile. His first public appearance related to football only happened in November, at a charity event. Last Sunday, he took part in the Kings League alongside Olympique de Marseille legends such as Zidane and Ribéry, playing at the Vélodrome stadium.

On social media, one detail stands out: even after leaving Vasco, Payet still uses a photo of São Januário as his profile picture, which he posted when he first joined the club in 2023.

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Payet still uses a photo of São Januário as his social media profile picture — Photo: Reproduction

At the beginning of this year, Vasco even considered a possible renewal, conditioned on the player's salary adjustment. However, his poor performance on the field — 17 games in 2025, only four as a starter, with three assists and no goals — definitively ended that possibility. His last official match was on April 15, against Ceará, in the Brazilian Championship.

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