Costa Terminates Contract With Sundowns

Sportswire can confirm that Lucas Ribeiro Costa has terminated his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns, effective 1 August.

The player has since referred the matter to the FIFA Football Tribunal to formally rule on the termination.

Costa has been linked with several clubs, including Qatari side Qatar SC and Brazilian club Fluminense, the same team Sundowns faced in the FIFA Club World Cup.

A letter obtained by Sportswire detailed the player’s decision, citing his belief that he had “just cause to terminate my contract with Mamelodi Sundowns FC.”

Costa has not played in any of Sundowns’ five matches this season as he seeks to force a move from the club. The reigning PSL Footballer of the Season, Golden Shoe winner, and Players’ Player of the Season stated in the letter:

“I believe that I have just cause to terminate my contract with Mamelodi Sundowns FC, which I will explain before the FIFA Football Tribunal,” he said.

“However, in any event, following the Diarra ruling by the CJEU, there is no doubt that the dispute between me and my former club will not prevent me from continuing my career with peace of mind: indeed, following its own regulations (as amended in light of the Diarra judgement), FIFA will see to it that the international transfer certificate be immediately delivered upon request by my future employer.”

Transfer Dispute and Future Plans

The letter further explains that Qatar SC, the former club of Percy Tau, had sent a generous transfer offer to Sundowns for Costa. However, the deal fell through because Sundowns allegedly “attempted to drive up the price, again and again, in an unreasonable manner, without any regard for the player’s personal interests, which made the deal impossible.”

Costa stated that he is now “defending his legitimate interests in the FIFA Tribunal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and possibly in any competent State Court.” He also noted that “my next employer will not be involved in the dispute between me and Mamelodi Sundowns FC, neither from a disciplinary perspective nor financially.”

The 26-year-old, represented by attorney Jean-Louis Dupont in Barcelona, is considering several expressions of interest from various clubs.

Since joining Sundowns in 2023, Costa has been a standout performer, scoring 37 goals and providing 23 assists in 88 matches across all competitions.