Stefan De Vrij Wants Inter Exit As Jose Mourinho’s Benfica And Nottingham Forest Circle
The 33-year-old has the 2026 World Cup firmly in mind.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 17 December 2025
Inter defender Stefan de Vrij could be on the move in January amid reported interest from the likes of Benfica and Nottingham Forest.
Inter defender Stefan de Vrij seeking January move to aid World Cup hopes
De Vrij wants to leave Inter in January after slipping down the pecking order under coach Cristian Chivu, according to reports.
The Netherlands defender has become frustrated by limited minutes, and sees the January transfer window as a turning point, Tuttosport have claimed.
De Vrij has played just 496 minutes in all competitions this season, including only one minute across Inter’s last nine Serie A matches.
Inter have preferred Manuel Akanji and Yann Bisseck at centre-back, with De Vrij used mainly when Francesco Acerbi has been unavailable.
The 33-year-old, whose contract expires in 2026, also wants to keep his place with the Netherlands ahead of the World Cup.
Oranje coach Ronald Koeman favours players who feature regularly for their clubs, which does not favour De Vrij’s situation.
As a result, the defender is reportedly pushing for a move that offers regular football, with his contract situation adding urgency.
Fellow Inter teammate Davide Frattesi could also leave San Siro in the coming weeks.
Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic is a potential replacement for Chivu’s side.
Forest, Benfica and Bologna monitor De Vrij situation
Benfica, Nottingham Forest and Bologna are among the clubs reportedly monitoring De Vrij’s situation as January approaches.
Jose Mourinho’s side have made an initial enquiry, Tuttosport said, as they look for an experienced central defender for the second half of the season.
England’s Nottingham Forest are also searching for defensive depth, with De Vrij apparently viewed as an attainable short-term option.
Bologna could offer the Dutchman some continuity in Serie A, where De Vrij has played since 2014.
A move to Bologna would likely require a compromise on wages, given the club’s salary structure compared with that of the Nerazzurri.
The Saudi Pro League is also circling, with Al Ittihad having shown an interest in the 33-year-old for years.
Inter will now have to weigh up a cut-price sale for De Vrij against letting him leave for nothing in the summer.
The Nerazzurri will surely not want to lose such a reliable player in mid-season and risk finding themselves short in case of injuries elsewhere.
Nevertheless, the possibility of a bidding war breaking out over De Vrij could see Inter recoup some money.
Elsewhere, Inter have been hit by Denzel Dumfries’ absence, the full-back having undergone ankle surgery.
The Nerazzurri are also looking at potential reinforcements in goal. Reports say Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario is an Inter target.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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