Official: Aston Villa sign Philippe Coutinho in permanent deal, contract until 2026

“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,” Gerrard said.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona have confirmed in their own official statement that the deal for Villa to sign Coutinho is worth €20m, while they have inserted a 50% sell-on clause for any future sale of the player.

It’s a crucial piece of business for Villa, as it sets the tone for the upcoming transfer window and it’s undoubtedly a big boost to get a big deal done early. There is no doubt that there are real benefits to having someone of Coutinho’s quality and experience in the squad, and hopefully the best from him is yet to come with a crucial pre-season in the bank too.

Aston Villa is delighted to announce the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona for an undisclosed fee! 🙌

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 12, 2022