Derek Cornelius

Derek Cornelius of Marseille was born in Ajax, Canada on 25 November 1997 (age 28).

Derek Cornelius, born on 25 November 1997 (age 28), is a Canadian central defender with Marseille, where he wears the number 13 shirt.

His most productive league season came with Malmö FF in 2023, when he scored three goals in 25 appearances. For a defender, that is a useful return rather than a headline act, and it marked the clearest attacking contribution of his club career so far.

At Marseille in 2025-26, Cornelius has made two Ligue 1 appearances and has not scored. He has also remained involved with Canada, making two Gold Cup appearances this season.

His career to this point has taken him from Canadian international football into the European club game, with Malmö providing his strongest league campaign and Marseille his current platform.

📈 Key stats and insights

Derek Cornelius made two Ligue 1 appearances in 2025-26

Derek Cornelius did not start a Ligue 1 match in 2025-26

Derek Cornelius averaged a 7.18 rating across his rated league appearances

Derek Cornelius's highest season rating was 8.07

Derek Cornelius moved to Marseille for £3.4m before a loan to Rangers

Last updated 31 May 2026. Send feedback

Derek Cornelius stats

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Central Defender
Primary Position: Defender
Position

Derek Cornelius

CD

1.88m (6ft 2in)
Height: 13
Squad Number: 86kg (13st 7lb)
Weight: 25 November 1997 (age 28)
Date of Birth: Ajax
Birthplace: Canada 🇨🇦
Country of Birth: Marseille
Team: Canada 🇨🇦
National Team

📊 Season stats

Team: Marseille
Ligue 1 2025 - 2026
Games: 2
Starting: -
Substitute: 2
Unused: 32
Utilisation: 6%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Team: Canada 🇨🇦
Gold Cup 2025
Games: 2
Starting: 2
Substitute: -
Unused: 2
Utilisation: 50%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Derek Cornelius made two Ligue 1 appearances in 2025-26, both from the bench, and did not score. With no starts and no disciplinary record, the numbers pointed to a peripheral role at Marseille rather than a settled place in the back line. His two Gold Cup appearances gave him more visible competitive involvement for Canada than at club level.

📋 Career stats

Team: Marseille
Season 2025 - 2026
Country: France 🇫🇷
Games: 2
Goals: -

Team: Rangers
Season 2025 - 2026
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 7
Goals: 1

Team: Marseille
Season 2025 - 2026
Country: France 🇫🇷
Games: 2
Goals: -

Team: Marseille
Season 2024 - 2025
Country: France 🇫🇷
Games: 21
Goals: -

Team: Malmo FF
Season 2024
Country: Sweden 🇸🇪
Games: 12
Goals: 2

Team: Malmo FF
Season 2023
Country: Sweden 🇸🇪
Games: 25
Goals: 3

Team: Panetolikos
Season 2022 - 2023
Country: Greece 🇬🇷
Games: 13
Goals: -

Team: Panetolikos
Season 2021 - 2022
Country: Greece 🇬🇷
Games: 29
Goals: 2

Team: Vancouver Whitecaps
Season 2021
Country: USA 🇺🇸
Games: 5
Goals: -

Team: Vancouver Whitecaps
Season 2020
Country: USA 🇺🇸
Games: 13
Goals: -

Team: Vancouver Whitecaps
Season 2019
Country: USA 🇺🇸
Games: 17
Goals: 1

Cornelius's career path has been relatively mobile, taking him from Javor Ivanjica to Vancouver Whitecaps, a Panetolikos loan, Malmo FF, Marseille and then a loan to Rangers. The broad trajectory was upward – from Serbia and MLS into Sweden, Ligue 1 and the Scottish Premiership – but the limited 2025-26 league usage suggested he had not turned that progression into regular minutes at Marseille.

💰 Transfers

Team: Marseille
1 June 2026
From: Rangers
Type: Returned from loan

Team: Rangers
1 September 2025
From: Marseille
Type: Loan

Team: Marseille
4 August 2024
From: Malmo FF
Type: Fee (£3.4m)

Team: Malmo FF
8 January 2023
From: Vancouver Whitecaps
Type: Undisclosed

Team: Panetolikos
12 July 2021
From: Vancouver Whitecaps
Type: Loan

Team: Vancouver Whitecaps
18 January 2019
From: Javor Ivanjica
Type: Free Transfer

Team: Javor Ivanjica
31 January 2017
From: Neumünster
Type: Free Transfer

The transfer record shows a gradual rise in level. Cornelius joined Vancouver Whitecaps on a free transfer, moved to Panetolikos on loan, then went to Malmo FF for an undisclosed fee before Marseille paid £3.4m in 2024. The subsequent loan from Marseille to Rangers in 2025 looked like a minutes-driven move after he failed to establish himself as a starter in France.

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