Philippe Coutinho joins Qatari side Al Duhail

The arrival of Philippe Coutinho to Al Duhail is now a reality. The Brazilian put an end to his time at Aston Villa to embark on a new adventure in Qatari football on a loan basis, as confirmed by the Birmingham-based club through an official statement. The former Barcelona player has already been presented with his new team.

Coutinho's initial performances at Villa Park inspired optimism, but he never quite reached the level that led Barcelona to spend 135 million euros on his signing. The Brazilian arrived at Aston Villa also on loan, but the 'Villans' ended up acquiring the player on a permanent basis for 20 million euros in the summer of 2022.

Coutinho, who was crucial while Steven Gerrard was in charge of Aston Villa, gradually faded after the arrival of Unai Emery. The Basque coach never seemed to have confidence in the Brazilian, and his role became increasingly marginal. The Birmingham club appeared ready to sell him this summer, but a muscular injury in the second match thwarted their plans.

Despite the injury, Coutinho had no shortage of suitors. He even surfaced as a possible reinforcement for Real Betis, but in the end, it was Qatar's Al Duhail who secured his services. This move marks the end of Coutinho's adventure in European football, which has seen him represent Inter, Espanyol, Liverpool, Barcelona, among others.