Tottenham make January exit decision and tell player’s camp – Extension now ruled out

Tottenham are ready to help Richarlison leave in January, and they’ve already communicated that position to his representatives.

We learned Spurs could make the Brazilian’s life difficult by triggering their unilateral option to extend his contract until 2028. They’ve now decided against doing so.

Also, the attempts to terminate his current deal have also been abandoned. So everything is now pointing towards January.

Tottenham will ‘facilitate’ Richarlison exit

ESPN Brazil journalist Bruno Andrade provided a lengthy update on Richarlison’s situation. And his main information is that the forward will leave Tottenham in January.

There is already an understanding between the two sides about finding a solution.

“From January, the doors are wide open,” Andrade said. “Richarlison will leave Tottenham in January, or possibly English football, for another market.”

His current contract runs until June 2027. That means he’ll be able to negotiate a pre-contract with another club from January. Tottenham, though, aren’t planning to make him wait until the summer.

“Tottenham have told his representatives that they’ll facilitate his departure,” Andrade explained. “He won’t need to sign a pre-contract and then wait until June to leave for free.”

A pre-contract could still strengthen Richarlison’s hand. Andrade suggests it could put further pressure on Spurs to lower their asking price for an immediate January transfer.

For Tottenham, getting something for him in January clearly makes more sense than losing him for nothing months later.

Contract extension is off the table

There had been another complication hanging over Richarlison. Tottenham have a unilateral option to add another year to his contract.

Richarlison couldn’t prevent them from activating it. However, that possibility has now been removed.

“Tottenham have already informed his representatives that they won’t trigger the automatic extension option,” Andrade said. “Tottenham could do that to create a bigger battle, but they won’t.”

That’s important given how catastrophic the relationship became over the summer. Instead of dragging the situation out for another year or trying to get more money from a future deal, Spurs now appear ready to draw a line under it.

Legal battle has also been abandoned

Richarlison had been looking at ways to terminate his Tottenham contract. One possibility was an amicable agreement. His camp had also explored whether there were grounds to terminate it for just cause. Neither route is going any further.

“The attempt to terminate the contract for just cause, or even by mutual agreement, is dead. Both possibilities are dead,” Andrade said.

“Tottenham’s legal department and, especially, Richarlison’s legal team realised there weren’t sufficient grounds to take this forward.”

That leaves a conventional January transfer as the obvious solution. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates remain possible destinations. Andrade stresses there is currently nothing agreed with any club.

A good offer from England could also change things. Brazil, however, isn’t part of Richarlison’s thinking at this stage. Andrade specifically rules out Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras and Fluminense for January.

“So what’s certain is this: Brazil is out of the equation, termination by mutual agreement or for just cause is completely off the table, and the extension won’t happen either,” he concluded.

After months of arguments, failed moves and legal possibilities, the situation finally looks a little simpler. Richarlison stays at Tottenham until January. Then Spurs are fully prepared to help him go.