From Manchester United to Brazil via Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid: What Does the Future Hold For Memphis Depay? | OneFootball

Take a cursory look at the Netherlands’ national team squad, and you’ll see a wide range of footballers who are playing for the biggest teams in Europe. Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch are plying their trade at newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool, whilst Tijjani Reijnders and Nathan Aké are doing their business at English heavyweights Manchester City. There’s also Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Denzel Dumfries (Inter) and many more who are suiting up for the best teams on the continent.

Out of the 23 players that Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman called up for this month’s World Cup qualifiers, only one of them is not playing in European football: Memphis Depay. Just how did it come to this for Depay, and what exactly does the future hold for him?

Born in Moordrecht, Netherlands, Depay joined PSV Eindhoven’s academy in 2006, where he would rise through the youth ranks and emerge as a key figure for the club en route to the 2014/15 Eredivisie title. He excelled thanks to his quick feet, his decisive finishing in front of the box, and his deft turn of pace, and similarly to Jimmy Conrad, he proved undaunted in physical challenges and held his own in the dirty side of the game.

It was enough to see Manchester United sign him for £25 million, with Depay becoming the fourth player to trade PSV for Old Trafford after Jaap Stam, Park Ji-sung and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Unlike those players, however, Memphis never came remotely close to meeting those expectations and crumbled under the pressure of wearing United’s iconic #7 shirt. Many chalked up his struggling performances to his flashy lifestyle, or his lack of work ethic, or his inability to make the leap from Dutch football to English football. Whatever it was, it wasn’t working.

However, Depay managed to find his footing in France after joining Lyon in January 2017. He quickly emerged as one of the most effective forwards in Ligue 1 for Les Gones, flourishing with less spotlight on him and finally showcasing his world-class potential at the top level. Whilst an ACL injury would cause him to rebuild from square one, he nevertheless managed to bounce back in stellar fashion, becoming the second Dutchman to score in six straight Champions League games after Van Nistelrooy. All told, Depay departed Lyon with 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 matches.

After polishing his skills on the second rung of European football, it was now time to return to the upper echelon. Depay joined Barcelona in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer, where he struggled to beat out the competition and impose himself as a vital cog in attack. It always seemed that it was a transfer borne out of Barcelona’s desire to replenish their squad with free transfers rather than a cohesive plan to fit him into the squad – it always appeared that he was a square peg trying to insert himself in a round hole. Eventually, after a season and a half in Catalunya, he took his talents to Atlético de Madrid, where he continued to struggle for protagonism. Following just three years in Spain, Depay decided to head across the Atlantic and join Brazilian giants Corinthians in September 2024.

On paper, it seemed to be a puzzling decision. Unlike other Brazilian teams like Flamengo or Palmeiras, silverware has been in short supply for Corinthians in recent years, with their last national title coming in the 2017 Brasileirão championship. And unlike other Brazilian teams like Botafogo or Fluminense, they are not competing in the FIFA Club World Cup. But despite not speaking Portuguese, Depay emerged as a fan favorite, leading the Timão from an unseemly relegation fight to qualification for the Copa Libertadores. Not only did he become a regular source of goals and an attacking talisman, racking up 13 goals and 14 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, but he also tapped into the cultural landscape of São Paulo, attending samba music concerts, meeting local supporters in the favelas, and forging a bond with their fanbase.

Even at 31, Depay remains an important figure in the Netherlands’ national team set-up. He ranks 10th for the most international caps amongst Oranje players, whilst he is also just one goal away from surpassing Robin van Persie as their all-time leading scorer. It seems all but guaranteed that he will be heavily involved in next summer’s FIFA World Cup – the only question is, with which team?

Depay’s current contract is set to expire in December 2026, and although Corinthians chief Fabinho Soldado has stated that he isn’t indispensable, he’s also mentioned that a new contract could be underway.

“I’m with Memphis Depay here at the training center every day,” stated Soldado in a recent press conference. “He’s never shown any dissatisfaction, he’s never called me to say anything. If that happens at some point, and I’m telling everyone this, we’ll have to sit down and listen. Football is very dynamic. We are talking about one situation now that could be different in a few hours. I need to be prepared, alert and attentive to find a solution for a demand that we are not expecting, but that could arise along the way. Right now there is no open conversation with him about [a new contract]. It is not the time to talk about it.”

Will Depay continue his Brazilian adventure? Will he return to the upper crust of European football? Or will he pursue a new chapter in the USA or Saudi Arabia? Whatever happens, expect him to continue playing a leading role for the Netherlands for the foreseeable future.

Zach Lowy