- Philippe Coutinho has joined Santos FC until the end of the season, linking up with close friend and former Brazil team-mate Neymar
- Neymar paid €2m through his sports marketing company a few days ago to help lift Santos’ transfer ban
- Coutinho has been without a club since leaving Vasco da Gama in February after 81 appearances
Coutinho Makes Santos Move After Vasco Exit
Philippe Coutinho has completed a move to Santos FC until the end of the season, where he will play alongside his close friend and Brazil team-mate Neymar. The former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder, 34, had been unattached since departing Vasco da Gama in February. Coutinho had returned to his childhood club in 2024, but left after making 81 appearances and saying he was “tired mentally”.
Santos marked his arrival on social media with a nostalgic post, using an old image of Coutinho and Neymar together as teenagers and pairing it with a new version of the two re-creating the pose in the gym.
The club also released footage of Coutinho entering the dressing room, where Neymar greeted him with a hug. In the video, Coutinho says “if it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up”.
Seja muito bem-vindo ao Reino do Futebol, Coutinho. A sua felicidade também será a nossa. Vamos juntos pelo Peixão! 🤍🖤 pic.twitter.com/8g4xviP8xe
— Santos FC (@SantosFC) September 14, 2026
Neymar’s Role in Santos’ Transfer Push
Neymar returned to Santos, his childhood team, in January last year. This will be the first time the friends have played together at club level.
A few days ago, Neymar paid €2m through his sports marketing company to lift Santos’ transfer ban, with Coutinho being brought to the club. Neymar has reportedly also tried to convince Arthur and Everton Cebolinha to join Santos. The sporting aim is to reach the final of the Copa Suramericana.
Transfer Ban Background
Santos’ registration issue came from a financial dispute with Monaco worth two million euros, connected to the transfer of Jean Lucas in the summer of 2023. When the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Santos’ appeal in May 2025, the club was prevented from registering players across three transfer windows.
Neymar’s marketing company covered the penalty amount in exchange for advertising space on the team’s shirts, where the “Pelé” brand acquired by the player’s company appeared.
| Key detail | Information |
|---|---|
| New club | Santos FC |
| Contract period | Until the end of the season |
| Coutinho’s age | 34 |
| Previous club | Vasco da Gama |
| Vasco appearances after 2024 return | 81 |
| Transfer-ban payment | €2m |
| Registration ban | Three transfer windows |
Career Path and Performance Record
Coutinho began his career at Vasco before moving to Inter in Italy. He then joined Liverpool in 2013, where he scored 54 goals in 201 games.
In 2018, he moved to Barcelona for £142m. Coutinho later had spells with Bayern Munich, Aston Villa and Al-Duhail before returning to Vasco.
