Featured Image Credit: Aston Villa/PA
Topics: Philippe Coutinho, Steven Gerrard, Aston Villa, Barcelona, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Philippe Coutinho, Steven Gerrard, Aston Villa, Barcelona, Football
Philippe Coutinho is back in the Premier League having agreed a stunning move to Aston Villa from Barcelona.
Coutinho, 29, will join the Villa Park club on a six-month loan deal subject to a medical and receiving a work permit.
Villa will pay the main bulk of his salary as part of the agreement.
The Brazilian midfielder held talks with other English clubs, with Newcastle United and Arsenal thought to be interested in snapping him up.
But he's opted to link up with Steven Gerrard at Villa, who have secured a statement signing ahead of the second half of the season.
Coutinho also had interest from across Europe, but his relationship with Gerrard swayed him towards the Midlands outfit.
Villa's chief executive Christian Purslow also played a significant role in negotiations.
The deal sees Coutinho reunite with former Liverpool teammate Gerrard, with the pair enjoying a two-and-a-half spell at Anfield.
Coutinho lit up England's top flight before penning a monstrous deal with Barcelona in January 2018.
He was signed by the Spanish giants for a club-record £142 million.
However, he's failed to make an impression at the club, unable to replicate his form at Liverpool.
The player, though, enjoyed success away from the Camp Nou, winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich during a loan stint.
Villa, who are 13th in the league, face Manchester United in the FA Cup on Monday.
They then resume their league campaign against Man United on January 15.