Santos confirms Philippe Coutinho, who joins Neymar until the end of 2026

An agreement between Coutinho and Santos had been reported several days earlier, but the signing had not yet been formalized. The player has since undergone the necessary medical and physical examinations prior to the club’s announcement.

Coutinho will wear the number 11 shirt. He will notably play for the first time at the same club as Neymar, his friend and former teammate on the Brazilian national team.

A product of Vasco’s youth academy, Coutinho has also played for clubs including Inter Milan, Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Aston Villa. He had been without a club since the termination of his contract with Vasco in February.

Presented on Monday alongside defender Rodinei, Coutinho did not set a specific date for his debut. He stated that he wants to first integrate into the team and regain match fitness before being fielded by the coaching staff.

Santos is competing in the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Sudamericana. The club is set to travel on Wednesday to face Atlético-MG in the return leg of the continental competition’s quarter-finals.