Coutinho signs for Santos, reuniting with Neymar

Philippe Coutinho has signed for Santos on a free transfer, reuniting with Neymar at club level for the first time. The former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder, 34, has agreed to a contract with the Brazilian club until the end of 2026, ending a seven-month period without a team. Coutinho had been unattached since leaving his boyhood club Vasco da Gama in February. At the time, he stated he was "very tired mentally" and needed to prioritize his mental health. His departure came after a spell in which he was repeatedly booed by his own fans. The move to Santos sets up a long-awaited partnership with close friend and former Brazil teammate Neymar. The pair have played together numerous times for the national team, but their club careers have never overlapped. Neymar, who returned to Santos in 2025, played a key role in convincing Coutinho to join. "Neymar certainly played a very important role in my coming here," Coutinho said. "He's a player who needs no introduction, a friend I've had since childhood, and I think he was the first person in football to send me a message when I left Vasco." He added that Neymar contacted him multiple times before he finally reconsidered.