Philippe Coutinho joins Michael Olunga at Al Duhail

Brazilian attacker Philippe Coutinho has finalized a loan move to Al Duhail in the Qatar Stars League, where he will become teammates with Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga.

Coutinho’s current contract with his Premier League club expires in June 2026. He is set to stay in Qatar for the remainder of the season.

Philippe Coutinho

Aston Villa, his current club, confirmed the move in a statement released on Friday evening.

“Aston Villa can confirm Philippe Coutinho has completed a season-long loan move to Al Duhail,” Villa revealed.

The 31-year-old Brazilian was brought to Villa Park by former manager Steven Gerrard in January 2022. His initial short-term deal from Barcelona was made permanent the following summer.

However, despite a promising start to his Premier League return, the former Liverpool playmaker struggled to meet expectations due to form and injury issues.

Coutinho made just seven league starts for Villa last season, scoring only once. He also suffered a hamstring injury shortly after being introduced against Everton last month.

Now, after a challenging period since his popular move to Barcelona from Liverpool in 2018, he is aiming to revive his career in the Middle East.

Coutinho initially showcased his prodigious talent and excelled in Vasco da Gama’s youth system. He was signed by Serie A club Inter Milan in 2008 for €4 million and was loaned back to Vasco, where he became a key player. He made his debut for Inter Milan in 2010 and was later loaned to La Liga club Espanyol in 2012.

Philippe Coutinho first stint

In January 2013, Coutinho joined Premier League club Liverpool and thrived there, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year in 2015.

He formed a formidable attacking quartet with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mané during his time at Liverpool.

In January 2018, he signed for Barcelona, winning two La Liga titles with the club. Coutinho was subsequently loaned to the German club Bayern Munich for the 2019–20 season, where he was part of the team that secured a treble, including the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and UEFA Champions League.

Coutinho made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2010 and has been part of several major international tournaments, including the Copa América and FIFA World Cup, where he has contributed with goals and performances.