One of the great English strikers of recent times, Jamie Vardy is on the radar of São Paulo. A free agent since he left Cremonese at the end of the season, the 39-year-old veteran has been offered to the board of the Tricolor Paulista.

The information was reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano and confirmed by Brazilian outlets. The striker was offered to the club and the negotiations involve football executive Rafinha and the player’s representatives.

The fact that Vardy is without a club is seen as a market opportunity, since there would be no need to pay a transfer fee.

However, there are two factors against the deal: the player’s advanced age and his salary. Vardy earned around R$ 900,000 per month at Cremonese and would even agree to lower his salary to make a deal. Even so, the figure is considered high by the Tricolor directors.

Leicester City Legend

An idol of Leicester City, Vardy played for the English club for 13 years and scored 200 goals in official competitions. The striker was one of the key players in the historic campaign that ended with the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season. For the England national team, he played in Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

In the 2025/26 season, Vardy played 29 matches and scored seven goals for Cremonese in Italy’s Serie A, but the club ended up relegated to the second division.

READ MORE: Almada explains turning down Flamengo and signing with River Plate

If the deal progresses, Vardy could join a list of European players who have shined in Brazilian football.

This is nothing new and includes names who, at different moments, managed to turn their time in Brazil into important chapters of their careers. And Sofascore News remembers some of them below!

Seedorf at Botafogo

In 2012, Botafogo surprised the market by announcing Clarence Seedorf. With a heavyweight career in Europe and four-time Champions League winner, the Dutch midfielder landed in Rio de Janeiro at 36 and quickly became a key figure at Alvinegro.

Seedorf played 81 matches for Botafogo and scored 24 goals. In 2013, he won the Campeonato Carioca with the club and was also part of the campaign that earned the team qualification for the Copa Libertadores.

The Dutchman left Brazilian football at the beginning of 2014 after a spell marked by technical performance and leadership on the pitch.

Memphis Depay at Corinthians

Another recent case that had a huge impact was Memphis Depay. Corinthians announced the signing of the Dutch striker in September 2024, following a career at clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona, and Atlético de Madrid.

Memphis had an immediate impact at Timão. In the last months of 2024, he scored seven goals and provided four assists in 14 matches, helping the team in their recovery in the Brazilian Championship.

In 2025, he won the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil, while in 2026, he lifted the Supercopa Rei. In total, he ended his time with Corinthians with 79 games, 20 goals, 15 assists, and three titles.

READ MORE: Corinthians do not renew contract with Memphis Depay

Dejan Petkovic: idol at several clubs

Long before Seedorf and Memphis, Dejan Petkovic built one of the most remarkable careers for a European in Brazilian football. The Serbian arrived in the country in the 1990s and played for Vitória, Flamengo, Vasco, and Fluminense, becoming one of the foreign players most closely linked to the national game.

A set-piece specialist known for his technical style, Petkovic experienced one of the most important moments of his career at Flamengo. At 37, he returned to the club in 2009 and played a decisive role in the campaign that ended with the Brazilian Championship title.

Petkovic was also immortalized in Maracanã’s Walk of Fame, becoming one of the few foreigners to receive the tribute.

Pablo Marí at Flamengo

In defense, another European who found Brazil a place to shine was Spanish defender Pablo Marí. The centre-back arrived at Flamengo in 2019, coming from Deportivo La Coruña, and quickly became a regular in the team led by Jorge Jesus.

Marí formed, alongside Rodrigo Caio, one of the best central defensive partnerships in Brazilian football that year. A regular starter throughout the campaign, the Spaniard was vital in Flamengo winning both the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Championship in 2019.