Philippe Coutinho set to join Vasco da Gama on loan from Aston Villa

Philippe Coutinho is set to join Vasco da Gama on a season-long loan.

As The Athletic reported last month, Villa had been in talks to terminate Coutinho's contract , facilitating a return to Brazil and Vasco da Gama. However, negotiations had proven protracted, with the Brazilian side unable to provide a requisite salary agreement. It meant Villa have had to explore alternative options in attempting to offload the 32-year-old.

Coutinho spent last season at Qatari side Al Duhail last summer after falling out of favour at Villa Park, going on to score seven goals and provide three assists in 22 games.

With Villa looking to revamp their squad this summer, Coutinho had been among the club's biggest earners at around £135,000 a week and still has two years left to run on his contract.

Coutinho moved to Villa initially on loan from Barcelona in January 2022, before making the transfer permanent in July 2022.

His move from Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018 remains the third-most expensive signing in football history behind Neymar and Kylian Mbappe , who both joined Paris Saint-Germain.

Coutinho has not added to his 68 Brazil caps since June 2022 and was not selected for their 2024 Copa America squad.