With that threatens to curtail its finals aspirations, Nichols will spend some time on the Gold Coast before he is expected to return to Japanese second division side - from which he joined Perth from on loan in the pre-season.
Nichols played 14 times for Glory in a stint that was put on hold after he suffered a hamstring injury before the FFA Cup final in December.
Since his return from injury, the Socceroos representative was relegated to a bench role and last played in the 3-2 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 23.
Nichols joined youngsters Matthew Davies, Brandon O'Neill, and Harry O'Brien as other players who have left the club over the past month while left-back Jack Clisby joined Melbourne City in January.
Next up for Kenny Lowe's side, which is second in the A-League, is a Round 25 appointment with fifth-place Sydney FC on Friday night at nib Stadium.