Richarlison‘s proposed return to Brazil with Vasco da Gama has collapsed on transfer deadline night, despite Tottenham Hotspur having already agreed a permanent transfer fee with the Rio de Janeiro club. The breakdown came after the 29-year-old forward failed to agree personal terms before Brazil’s registration deadline closed on Friday.
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What Happened
Tottenham reportedly agreed a fee worth around €20 million with Vasco da Gama for an outright sale of Richarlison, a deal that would have brought the Brazil international back to the country of his birth. A permanent transfer was the only route available, with Spurs said to have already reached their limit of six international loanees under FIFA’s overseas loan quota rules, ruling out a temporary switch.
Despite Tottenham and Vasco finding common ground on the fee, wage expectations and personal terms between Richarlison’s representatives and the Brazilian club ultimately proved impossible to resolve, and the move fell through before the deadline.
A Turbulent Few Weeks
The collapsed Vasco da Gama deal is the latest twist in a chaotic period for Richarlison. Earlier in the window, a proposed £35 million deadline-day move to Everton — the club where he scored 53 goals in 152 appearances during his first spell in England — also broke down. Richarlison reportedly rejected the chance to rejoin David Moyes’ side, citing frustration with how those negotiations were handled.
With the Premier League and other major European windows already closed, his options narrowed considerably. Turkish side Trabzonspor were credited with interest once the English window shut, but after Turkish and Saudi Pro League registration periods also closed, a return to Brazil became one of his few realistic paths out of Tottenham.
Contract Standoff Continues
Richarlison was left out of Tottenham’s registered 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the season and has been training with the club’s Under-21 side. That demotion is understood to be part of why the forward has approached FIFA in an attempt to terminate his contract, believing it gives him legitimate grounds to do so.
His current deal is set to run until next summer, though Tottenham hold the option to trigger a further 12-month extension — a detail that adds further complexity to any resolution.
Asked directly about the situation in a press conference on Friday, head coach Roberto De Zerbi declined to give clarity, saying simply: “I don’t know. It’s not my job.” He added that both the club and Richarlison knew exactly what each had done for the other in recent months, suggesting the matter was being handled away from the media.
What Happens Next
With the Vasco da Gama move now dead and the Brazilian transfer window closed, Richarlison is set to remain a Tottenham player for the time being. Under the terms of his current squad situation, he remains ineligible for Premier League selection until at least the January transfer window, when Tottenham could look to resolve his future once again.
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FAQs
Why did Richarlison’s move to Vasco da Gama collapse?
Tottenham had agreed a transfer fee with Vasco da Gama, but the deal fell through after Richarlison failed to agree personal terms before Brazil’s registration deadline.
How much was Tottenham’s agreed fee with Vasco da Gama?
Reports indicate the two clubs agreed a fee worth around €20 million for a permanent transfer.
Why couldn’t Richarlison join Vasco da Gama on loan instead?
Tottenham had already reached their maximum quota of six international loanees under FIFA’s overseas loan limit rules, making a permanent transfer the only option.
What happened with Richarlison’s proposed move to Everton?
A £35 million deadline-day move to Everton also collapsed, with Richarlison reportedly turning down the switch due to frustrations over how negotiations were conducted.
Will Richarlison be available for Tottenham’s Premier League matches?
No, he remains outside Tottenham’s registered 25-man Premier League squad and is ineligible for domestic league selection until at least the January transfer window.
