José Martínez officially leaves Corinthians as BID confirms exit

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Central do Timão

·24 Februari 2026

José Martínez officially leaves Corinthians as BID confirms exit

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

It's now official: the Venezuelan José Martínez is no longer part of the Corinthians squad. The termination of the midfielder's contract was recorded this Tuesday (24) in the Daily Information Bulletin (BID) of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

According to the agreement made between the club's board and the player's representatives, the club will cover 30% of the player's salary from February to December this year — excluding January — and will also cover the costs of the surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of his right knee. Although the previous contract was valid until December 2027, there will be no financial obligations between the parties for 2027.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

Internally, the club had already been exploring ways to terminate the contract, especially after the midfielder returned more than a month late due to issues with renewing his passport in Venezuela. When he returned to CT Joaquim Grava, he presented an injury that could sideline him for the entire 2026 season. Corinthians will be responsible for the expenses of the surgical procedure.

José Martínez arrived at Parque São Jorge in August 2024, after a transfer of 2 million dollars (about R$ 10.9 million at the exchange rate at the time) from the Philadelphia Union, United States. The São Paulo club even faced a FIFA sanction for delayed payment of the negotiation.

During his time, the Venezuelan midfielder played 70 matches, scored two goals, and provided two assists. He was also part of the team that won the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil in 2025.