According to ESPN BR, Grêmio and Willian have reached an agreement for the amicable termination of his contract, which was valid until December of this year. The termination followed a negotiation between the parties. Willian will receive in installments the total amount he was entitled to until the end of the contract. With the agreement, Willian is now a free agent. In late July, the player was informed that he was no longer part of coach Luis Castro's plans for the remainder of the season, and the club and player had been negotiating the terms of his departure since then.

According to ESPN BR, Grêmio is preparing to begin the process of an amicable contract termination with Willian this week. The decision for Willian to no longer be part of the club's plans was made by the technical commission during the World Cup break. The club considered the stance of coach Luís Castro and the medical department, with Willian's recent injuries being a significant factor. He has a contract with Grêmio until December 2026.

According to ESPN BR, Grêmio has informed Willian that he is not in coach Luís Castro's plans for the rest of the season. Willian is now able to sign a pre-contract with a different team. He is still permitted to play for another Série A club in the current competition, because regulations allow transfers for players who have participated in up to 12 matches.

Rumors indicated interest from clubs in Major League Soccer (MLS) in Brazilian winger Willian, 37, and a possible initiative from Willian to leave Grêmio before the end of his contract. Willian stated that he did not seek out Grêmio's management to discuss a transfer and emphasized his commitment to the club. Willian also said there was no action on his part regarding an early departure. Willian's contract with Grêmio is valid until December, and he stated his intention to fulfill it or remain at the club for as long as the club wants him. The former Brazil international, who has 70 caps, joined Grêmio in September 2025 and has a current market value of €400k, according to Transfermarkt. For the 2025/2026 season, Willian has made 8 appearances in the Série A, and 10 appearances with 2 assists in the Campeonato Gaúcho.