Ajax, Canada centre back signs with French giants Olympique Marseille

Canadian national team centre back and Ajax native Derek Cornelius is moving to Ligue 1 next season after signing a four-year deal with the historic Olympique de Marseille club in France’s top flight.

Cornelius, who had a breakout performance for his country in the COPA tournament earlier this summer, has spent the past two seasons at Malmo in the Swedish league, helping the club win the Allsvenskan in his first season and the Swedish Cup in 2023-24.

“To all my coaches, staff, teammates, and fans at Malmo, thank you for everything,” he said on his socials following the signing. “Together we lifted titles, celebrated victories and created memories that will stay with me forever. I will always be grateful and a supporter. Thank you.”

Derek Cornelius at Malmo in the Swedish league

Cornelius has been unheralded but on a steady rise in recent years. He came up through the Ajax soccer system (he was playing U-8 rep for Ajax Thunder at just six years old) and has since played all over the world, including Russia and Germany as a teen.

His senior career began with stints at two German clubs before moving to Serbian Super League side Javor Ivanjica (2016-19), Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS (2019-21) and Panetolikos in Greece before heading to Sweden, where he has made 49 appearances, scored six goals and hoisted championship trophies with Malmo.

His performance with Malmo and his new stature with Canada’s national team had him linked to transfers to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam before the deal was struck with nine-time French champion Marseille, where he will be joining Canada teammate Ismaël Koné.

Koné was signed from English club Watford last month.

Derek Cornelius in action for Canada vs France in a COPA tune-up match

Cornelius has been capped 26 times by Canada but didn’t appear to be favoured by John Herdman during the former national team skipper’s tenure. He was named to the 2022 World Cup squad but was replaced after an injury suffered at the club level on the eve of the tournament.

His performance at COPA under new manager Jessie Marsch, where Canada finished a surprising fourth, earned him both permanent stature on Canada’s backline and interest from the big European clubs, ultimately ending with his name on a contract with Marseille.

The club, in its introduction of Cornelius to the French media Sunday, described the 26-year-old as an athlete with “power, pace and aerial prowess” and possessing a “great sense of anticipation.”

The contract is valued at €4.3m plus add-ons.