Philippe Coutinho is poised to secure his fifth transfer since leaving Liverpool for Barcelona in a money-spinning £143million move eight-and-a-half years ago
Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho
Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho(Image: Getty Images)
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Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho is set to sign for Brazilian giant Santos. It would be the sixth club that Coutinho, now 34, has moved to since his big-money Anfield exit in January 2018.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Coutinho will undergo a medical on Friday before putting the formalities in place on a short-term deal in Sao Paolo. His contract is due to run until the end of the 2026 Serie A season, and should the move get completed as expected, he could make his debut on Sunday against Cruzeiro.
Coutinho spent four-and-a-half years at Liverpool, scoring 51 goals and providing 44 assists in 201 appearances before earning a blockbuster £143million transfer to Barcelona.
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In April 2025, Coutinho claimed that he didn't regret leaving Liverpool, even though the move didn't work out. "We had loads of conversations. At that time, I really wanted to move to Barcelona," Coutinho said.
"We had many discussions about staying, about leaving. But, eventually, the club (Liverpool) agreed to let me go and I joined Barcelona.The beginning was really good. My first six months at Barcelona were great. We won a title and I was playing really well. But the following season, after the World Cup, I was not in the same shape.
"My performances dipped and that was tough for me. I wanted to meet expectations, my own expectations as well but I just wasn't able to. That period was really challenging for me but I leaned on my family and in my faith, I've always believed in God. That helped me stay strong through it all."
Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool looking dejected
Philippe Coutinho in action for Liverpool in 2017(Image: Getty Images)
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Despite making a positive start to life in the Catalan region, netting 10 times in the second half of the 2017/18 campaign, Coutinho received strong criticism from fans in his second season.
He wasn't able to hit his best form and was therefore sent out to Bayern Munich on loan in August 2019. The Brazilian ended up helping the German side win the Champions League, and even scored during their thumping 8-2 win against parent club Barcelona in the quarter-final.
Coutinho returned to Barcelona with the arrival of new coach Ronald Koeman, but he once again struggled, this time with injuries and fitness concerns, making just 30 appearances in 16 months.
He went on to join ex-Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa in January 2022 on loan until the end of the season. It's safe to say Gerrard, who was Villa's manager, managed to get the best out of Coutinho.
The Rio de Janeiro-born attacker scored five goals and added three assists in 19 appearances for Villa in the second half of that season, and his form earned him a £17m permanent move to Villa Park in summer 2022.
But Coutinho wasn't able to replicate that form in the following season and joined Qatar Stars League side Al-Duhail on loan in September 2023. He scored eight times in 23 matches in the Middle East.
Coutinho then spent some time at boyhood club Vasco da Gama before that move was made permanent in July 2025 and his nightmare three-year spell at Villa finally came to an end.
He left Vasco in February 2026 citing pressure from fans and mental exhaustion, and has been a free agent since. But Coutinho's time out of the game is set to end with a move to Santos incoming.