Premier League transfer record holder makes surprise Qatar move

Updated: 9 Sept 2023 14:31 BST
3 min read

Philippe Coutinho has been loaned to Al-Duhail in Qatar — © ProShots

Philippe Coutinho has left Aston Villa and has completed a transfer to at Al-Duhail, the clubs report through official channels.

For a long time it seemed that the midfielder would permanently leave the Premier League club, but it is a loan deal. It is unclear whether the Qatari club has an option to purchase.

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The transfer market in Qatar is still open for 10 days, allowing Al-Duhail to do business with the Premier League club and even giving them an edge over the big-spending Saudi Pro League in this regard.

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Coutinho made a name for himself at Liverpool in the past, but since his transfer to Barcelona in January 2018, the 31-year-old Brazilian is a shadow of the player he once was. The Spanish club paid €135 million at the time and that is still the most expensive outgoing Premier League transfer ever.

In Spain, Coutinho is known as one of Barcelona's biggest mistakes ever.

After 106 official matches and 26 goals, and loan spells to Bayern Munich and Aston Villa, Coutinho moved from Barcelona to Birmingham last summer for €20m.

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The Camp Nou outfit negotiated a resale percentage of 50% in that latest deal, but it is highly questionable whether they will ever profit from this. Coutinho's contract with Aston Villa runs for another three seasons but the prospect of him seeing it out is scant after being made peripheral under Unai Emery.

Coutinho has so far scored six goals and three assists in 43 official matches for Aston Villa. He had little prospect of playing time under Emery this season and with his departure Aston Villa has created space on the Birmingham side’s wage bill.

At Al-Duhail, Coutinho will have to deal with a well-known name: former striker Hernan Crespo is the head coach of the Doha side.