Derek Cornelius joins Malmö FF in Sweden

Canadian centre back Derek Cornelius will join Malmö FF in Sweden for the upcoming 2023 Allsevnskan season. Transferred from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Cornelius joined the Swedish club following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and has signed with his new club through 2026.

Cornelius had most recently been on loan to Panetolikos in Greece’s Super League 1 for the 2021-22 season and the first part of the 2022-23 season. Before joining Vancouver in 2019, he previously played in FK Javor Ivanjica in Serbia’s SuperLiga.

Still only 25 years old, Cornelius was most recently a member of Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Across his international career, he has made 14 international “A” appearances and helped Canada finish in first place in the 2021-22 Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Born and raised in Ajax, Cornelius grew up playing his youth football at Ajax SC and Unionville SC before making his move to Europe. He was 15 years old when he made his debut in Canada Soccer’s youth program in 2013 and has since worn the captain’s armband at the U-16, U-21 and U-23 levels.