Player still needs to pass medical before Aston Villa exit – Two-year deal waiting for him when he does

While there was a moment when it seemed like Philippe Coutinho could be on his way to Real Betis, the Brazilian will be leaving Aston Villa for Qatar.

The story had been slowly progressing throughout transfer deadline day, and journalist César Luis Merlo brings the latest.

He explains that Coutinho will play at Al Duhail, where he will be managed by Argentine legend Hernán Crespo.

The club have ‘already reached an agreement’ with Aston Villa for the player’s transfer, and once the medicals have been passed, the player will sign a two year contract that will keep him in Qatar until 2025.

It needs to be addressed that Coutinho is currently injured, although it doesn’t seem to be serious enough to scupper a transfer.

The amount being paid to Aston Villa isn’t revealed, but, at this point, it seems Unai Emery and Monchi are simply happy to be getting the Brazilian’s wages off their books, even if he had taken a pay cut to sign permanently at Villa Park in the first place.

🚨Philippe Coutinho jugará en el Al Duhail, dirigido por Hernán Crespo.
*️⃣Ya hay acuerdo con el Aston Villa y el brasileño, una vez superada las pruebas médicas, firmará hasta junio de 2025. #TratoHecho pic.twitter.com/bjzLGlNV4J

— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) September 1, 2023