In an unique collaboration, FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Philippe Coutinho. The said player reportedly stands to get $192 million (€160 million / ₹ 1,220 crore) from the five-year deal.
Coutinho will sign a contract for the remainder of the season and five more with FC Barcelona and will have a buyout clause of $ 481 million (€400 million).
The contract makes the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder the third most expensive deal in football history. The signing is bettered by only the Neymar-Paris-St-Germain deal for $271 million and the $225 million PSG has agreed to spend for Kylian Mbappe for a loan spell from Monaco. Neymar remains the most expensive footballer ever.
The midfielder arrives at FC Barcelona after demonstrating his class as a player with Liverpool and the Brazilian national side.
“Liverpool FC can confirm Philippe Coutinho will be leaving the club after a transfer agreement was reached with FC Barcelona, subject to medical and agreement of personal terms. The player now has permission to complete the usual formalities to conclude the transfer immediately,” Liverpool has stated in a press statement.
The 25 year-old is expected to train with his new team-mates today and even be available to make his Barca debut in the Copa del Rey against Celta Vigo on Thursday evening.
Born on 12 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Coutinho is one of the most talented midfielders in the world with the potential to get even better.
He began his footballing career in his home town with Vasco de Gama. At the age of just 18, he moved to Europe to begin a new stage of his career at Serie A giants Inter Milan with whom he would go to make his Champions League debut.
After two and half seasons in Milan and six months in Barcelona with the city’s other club Espanyol, Coutinho made the move to the Premier League when he signed for Liverpool in January 2013.
With the five times European Champions, the Brazilian quickly established himself as a key player at the club.
