Memphis Depay publicly accused Brazilian club Corinthians of breaching an agreement by deciding not to extend his contract after initially agreeing on a renewal, in a statement made on August 11, 2026 [1, 2].
Depay, 32, joined Corinthians on a two-year contract in 2024. During his time with the club, he made 79 appearances and scored 20 goals across all competitions [1, 3, 2]. He played a key role in helping Corinthians win the Copa do Brasil in 2025 and the Supercopa do Brasil in 2026 [1, 3, 2].
"This renewal was explicitly agreed upon by the president as well as the sporting, legal and financial department. Some people decided however to breach this engagement," Depay said, expressing frustration over the club's decision [1]. He added, "I didn’t want this situation and always respected the club throughout the process, but now I am forced to react strongly in order to preserve my interests." Depay also said he plans to speak publicly in the coming days and will not let the "unacceptable behaviour" go unchallenged [1].
Corinthians responded that the decision not to extend Depay's contract was motivated by financial concerns. The club stated, "It became clear that taking on a new commitment of this magnitude would not be compatible with the financial balance we need to preserve to ensure the institution's sustainability. We recognise that this was a difficult decision, but it was undoubtedly necessary for the future of Corinthians." [1]
As of August 2026, Corinthians are seventh in Brazil's Serie A league standings [1, 3, 2].
Depay is also the Netherlands' all-time leading goalscorer but failed to score in three appearances at the 2026 World Cup [3].
Corinthians club president Osmar Stabile is scheduled to hold a press conference soon to address the contract situation and clarify the club’s position [1, 3, 2].
