Derek Cornelius

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

Derek Cornelius, born 25 November 1997 (age 28), is a Canadian central defender currently with Marseille, where he wears squad number 13. His most productive league season came at Malmö FF in 2023, when he scored three goals in 25 appearances – useful output from a centre-half rather than the main point of his game.

His 2025–26 season has taken him from Rangers to Marseille. He made seven league appearances and scored once for Rangers, then added two league appearances after moving to France. His form over the season has been solid and consistent, without much need for embroidery.

Cornelius has also remained involved with Canada, making one World Cup appearance and two Gold Cup appearances this season. At this stage, his career reads as that of an established international defender with experience in Sweden, Scotland and France, now trying to build a firmer place at Marseille.

📈 Key stats and insights

Derek Cornelius made seven league appearances for Rangers in 2025–26

Derek Cornelius scored one goal during his Rangers loan

Derek Cornelius made two league appearances for Marseille in 2025–26

Derek Cornelius averaged a 7.18 season rating

Derek Cornelius's rating range ran from 6.52 to 8.07

Last updated 13 June 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 🇨🇦
World Cup 2026
Games: 2
Starting: 2
Substitute: -
Unused: -
Utilisation: 100%
Goals: -
Yellows: 1
Reds: -

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

Cornelius's 2025–26 league work was split between seven appearances and one goal for Rangers and two appearances for Marseille. For a central defender, that profile pointed to a rotation role rather than a settled starting place, although the goal at Rangers and a 7.18 average rating gave his season more substance than the appearance count alone.

📋 Career stats

Team: Marseille
Season 2026 - 2027
Country: France 🇫🇷
Games: -
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 had moved through Vancouver Whitecaps, a Panetolikos loan, Malmo FF, Marseille and Rangers by age 28. The route suggested steady progression from MLS and Greece to Sweden, then France, with the Rangers spell functioning as a loan stop rather than a permanent change in direction.

💰 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 trail was loan-heavy around his Marseille period. Vancouver sent Cornelius to Panetolikos on loan in 2021, Malmo FF then took him from Vancouver for an undisclosed fee, and Marseille paid €3.4m in 2024 before loaning him to Rangers in September 2025 and taking him back in June 2026.

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