Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison is seeking to terminate his contract with the club via FIFA to secure a move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama, according to reports by FootballTransfers and Globo. The 29-year-old has reportedly initiated talks after being excluded from Tottenham's 25-man Premier League squad for the 2026-27 season. With the Brazilian transfer window closing on September 11, the striker is looking to bypass negotiation deadlocks between the clubs.
Financial and regulatory deadlocks
Tottenham established a minimum valuation of €20m (£17.1m) to sanction a permanent sale for a player they signed for £60m in 2022. Vasco da Gama’s proposal of €10m for 50% of the forward's economic rights—structured in instalments starting in 2027—fell short of Spurs' demands. Furthermore, a loan move is legally impossible. Under FIFA's loan regulations, clubs are restricted to a maximum of six players out on international loan. Tottenham have already hit this limit with Kevin Danso, Kota Takai, Min-Hyeok Yang, Pape Sarr, Mikey Moore, and Souza, leaving contract termination as the only viable route for an immediate departure.
De Zerbi's squad reshape
The forward's marginalisation follows a busy summer of recruitment under head coach Roberto De Zerbi. The arrivals of Omar Marmoush, Savio, and Mykhailo Mudryk pushed the Brazilian down the pecking order, culminating in his omission from the registered league squad. While a mutual termination would mean Tottenham miss out on a transfer fee, it would immediately remove his significant salary from the wage bill. Richarlison, whose current contract expires next summer, must resolve the legal complexities with FIFA and Spurs before the Brazilian registration deadline to finalise his return to South America.
