Philippe Coutinho has joined Aston Villa from Barcelona after a successful loan spell, for an undisclosed fee of €20 million (£17.2 million).
Coutinho has been with Villa since January, and the chance to continue working under Steven Gerrard was a major factor in his decision to sign a contract extension until 2026. As part of the agreement, Barcelona has a 50% sell-on clause.
Coutinho is said to have accepted a pay cut from his previous contract at Barcelona for Villa to accommodate the midfielder into their wage structure. Villa’s top earners, one of whom is thought to be Danny Ings, are thought to earn around £125,000 per week.
“This is a fantastic signing for Aston Villa,” said Gerrard. “Phil is a model professional, and his influence on the group has been palpable since his arrival in January.” He’s also a valuable role model for our younger players, who can only benefit from his experience, with the way he conducts himself on and off the field.”
Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018 for an initial £106 million fee, but the move did not work out, and he spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Bayern Munich.
Payment terms were the final element agreed upon in negotiations between Barcelona and Villa, whose efforts in finalizing the transfer were lauded by Gerrard. “As we prepare for next season, it’s incredible to work at a club that runs its operations so decisively and smoothly,” he said.
Coutinho has made 16 appearances for Villa, scoring four goals and providing three assists, all of which came in his first eight.
