Brazilian club Corinthians have completed the signing of former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old has signed a contract until the end of the 2026 season, with the option of a further year if certain thresholds are met. Brazil’s Serie A runs from January to December.
Lingard has been a free agent since leaving South Korean club FC Seoul at the end of last year.
Formerly of West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, Lingard spent 21 months in the K League, scoring 18 goals and providing ten assists in 66 games for FC Seoul side while also regularly wearing the captain’s armband.
Lingard, who will wear the No 77 shirt, told Corinthians’ official website: “First, I saw the fans at the airport chanting ‘Go Corinthians! Go Corinthians!’
“There’s a lot of passion from the fans, which is wonderful to see. The training center here is incredible. And the players welcomed me with open arms, the coach, the director, it was great to meet them. My first impressions: very happy, I can’t wait to play.”
Lingard will become the third English-born player to feature in Brazil’s Serie A when he makes his debut — although Colin Kazim-Richards, who had spells with both Corinthians and Coritiba, represented Turkey at international level, while Jamal Lewis, who spent time on loan at Sao Paulo, represents Northern Ireland.
Lingard has won 37 England caps, and played in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring one goal as Gareth Southgate’s side reached the semi-finals.
In 2021, he starred on loan at West Ham United, scoring nine goals in 16 Premier League appearances for David Moyes’ side.
A Manchester United youth-team graduate, Lingard scored 35 goals in 232 first-team appearances for the club, where he won the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League.