Jesse Lingard
Jesse Lingard is closing in on a new club (Image: Getty)
Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has reached an agreement to join Brazilian side Corinthians. The 33-year-old has been without a club since his contract at FC Seoul was terminated in December.
Over the last three months, he has been in talks with several clubs regarding a potential transfer. West Ham, Wolves and Genoa are amongst those who have explored the possibility of signing the England international.
However, Lingard is now on the verge of an unexpected switch to Brazil. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Warrington native has accepted a one-year deal with Corinthians, which includes an option for extension.
It's reported that travel arrangements and a medical examination are being organised for Lingard, who turned down a late offer from MLS to join Corinthians, where former United striker Memphis Depay is currently on the books. Lingard and Depay shared a dressing room at United during the Dutchman's spell at the club from 2015 to 2017 and will now reunite.
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Corinthians are positioned third in the Brazil Serie A standings after securing two wins and one draw from their opening four matches. They suffered their first defeat of the 2026 campaign against Novorizontino on Saturday.
Ex-Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista is also part of the Corinthians squad, with the Sao Paolo outfit aiming to reclaim their position at the summit of Brazilian football after finishing 13th last term. They did, however, secure the Copa do Brasil trophy, defeating Vasco da Gama 2-1 across a two-legged final to claim the competition for the fourth time.
Depay, who managed only 53 outings and netted seven times during a turbulent 12-month spell at Old Trafford, emerged as Corinthians' decisive figure.
For Lingard, Corinthians represents the ninth club of his professional career. He began at United but was loaned to Leicester, Birmingham and Brighton before his senior debut against Swansea in August 2014.
That proved to be his sole appearance for the Red Devils that campaign before another loan move materialised, joining promotion-chasing Derby in February 2015. Lingard returned to United for the subsequent season and finally cemented his position as a vital member of the Old Trafford first-team squad.
Jesse Lingard
Jesse Lingard has been a free agent since December (Image: Getty)
Lingard accumulated over 200 appearances during a five-year period before opting to depart the Reds in pursuit of consistent playing time, having been relegated to a substitute role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He left United temporarily and joined West Ham in January 2021, where Lingard excelled, delivering impressive individual displays that nearly secured him a spot in the England squad for Euro 2020. Throughout his brief spell at the London Stadium, he found the net nine times across 16 fixtures.
Whilst a permanent switch to West Ham remained a possibility for Lingard, he chose to stay at United for the final year of his deal before departing the Reds on a free transfer in 2022.
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Upon their promotion to the Premier League, Lingard put pen to paper with Nottingham Forest, though he failed to find his rhythm and parted ways with the Midlands outfit at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign.
After leaving The City Ground, Lingard remained unattached for nine months before venturing overseas for the first time in his professional career, securing a contract with South Korean outfit FC Seoul.
His spell at Seoul proved remarkably fruitful, with the midfielder netting 19 times and contributing ten assists over 67 matches for the South Korean club. However, after less than two years in the Far East, both parties reached a mutual agreement to terminate Lingard's Seoul contract in December 2025.