Coutinho makes permanent move to Aston Villa

Philippe Coutinho has made his stay at Aston Villa permanent after he signed a contract that keeps him at the club until 2026 on Thursday.

Coutinho, 29, joined from Barcelona on loan with Steven Gerrard – a former teammate at Liverpool now Villa coach playing a major role in bringing the Brazilian to the West Midlands club.

Villa announced the development on its website, writing, “Aston Villa is delighted to announce the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona for an undisclosed fee.

“The Brazilian playmaker has signed a contract until 2026.

“After initially signing on loan from the Catalan giants in January, Coutinho made an immediate impact at Villa Park with some outstanding performances. He has scored four goals and contributed three assists to date.”

Head Coach Steven Gerrard on Coutinho’s move becoming permanent said: “This is a brilliant signing for Aston Villa. Phil is a model professional and his impact on the group has been very clear since he joined in January.

“With the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he’s also a valuable role model for our younger players who can only benefit from his experience.

“As we look to build towards next season, it is incredible to work at a club that executes its business so decisively and smoothly.”