Philippe Coutinho will join Aston Villa from FC Barcelona on loan for the rest of the season, the English Premier League (EPL) club said Friday.

Aston Villa have the option to buy the Brazil international who is now expected to travel to Birmingham to complete the formalities of his move.

The midfielder will link up with Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard, with who he played with at Liverpool.

“The agreement, which is subject to the player completing a medical and receiving a work permit, also includes an option to buy and Philippe will travel to Birmingham in the next 48 hours,” said Aston Villa.

FC Barcelona confirmed Aston Villa will pay part of Coutinho’s wages as he returns to the EPL after four years.

He joined FC Barcelona from Liverpool in 2018 but has struggled at the Nou Camp and spent 2019/2020 on loan at Bayern Munich, where he won the UEFA Champions League.

In spite of helping Barca win La Liga in 2018 and 2019, he never found the form he displayed in the Premier League with Liverpool.

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He becomes Gerrard’s first signing at Aston Villa since the Englishman joined from Glasgow Rangers in November.

“He’s won two league titles at FC Barcelona, two Copa del Reys,” Gerrard said on Thursday.

“If you go and have a look at his Wiki page you’ll see a serial winner wherever he goes.

“I don’t think you get a nickname of ‘The Magician’ if you’re not a special footballer.”(dpa/NAN)