Philippe Coutinho Joins Neymar at Santos on Short-Term Deal

Former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho has joined Brazilian club Santos FC until the end of the season, reuniting with his close friend and Brazil team-mate Neymar.

The 34-year-old midfielder had been without a club since leaving Vasco da Gama in February, having returned to his boyhood club in 2024. Coutinho made 81 appearances during his second spell before departing.

His return to Santos creates an emotional reunion with Neymar, who also came through the club’s youth system. The pair have been close since their teenage years and will now play together at club level for the first time.

Santos highlighted their long-standing friendship in its announcement, sharing an old photograph of Coutinho and Neymar as teenagers alongside a new recreation of the same pose.

The club also released a video showing Coutinho entering the dressing room, where he received a warm embrace from Neymar. Coutinho could be heard saying, “If it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up.”

Coutinho began his professional career at Vasco before moving to Inter Milan. He later joined Liverpool in 2013 and established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout attacking midfielders, scoring 54 goals in 201 appearances for the club.

His performances at Liverpool earned him a major move to Barcelona in 2018 in a deal worth £142 million. However, his time at the Spanish club was followed by loan spells and moves involving Bayern Munich, Aston Villa and Al-Duhail.

Coutinho’s latest move gives him an opportunity to revive his career alongside Neymar at Santos, while also bringing together two players whose friendship dates back to their teenage years in Brazil.