Philippe Coutinho has returned to his hometown club in Rio de Janeiro on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

The former Liverpool superstar, who joined Barcelona for £145 million in 2018, has failed to find a long-term home since leaving the Nou Camp. He first joined Bayern Munich and Aston Villa on loan before signing with the Premier League outfit in 2022.

Last season, the 32-year-old Brazilian left Villa Park on loan to Saudi Arabian club Al-Duhail, but only scored three goals in 16 appearances.

Coutinho has signed with his boyhood club Vasco da Gama in Rio.

‘It’s a feeling of immense happiness, joy, and nervousness,’ the winger remarked after rejoining the team. ‘I’ve been overseas for a long time, so it’s like coming home, to the place where I grew up, to the club I adore.

Philippe Coutinho has returned to his boyhood club Vasco do Gama for a season-long loan.

The Brazilian, 32, left Aston Villa on loan again after playing in Saudi Arabia last season.

‘Everyone, including my family, knows how glad I am, and they are all pleased with my return.’

Coutinho progressed through Vasco do Gama’s youth academy before being spotted by Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan in 2008.

He impressed at the San Siro as a kid before going for Liverpool in 2013, where he spent another five years before heading to Barcelona in what remains one of the most expensive moves in history.

Coutinho played 152 games for Liverpool and scored 41 goals.

Liverpool’s sale fee allowed Jurgen Klopp to sign a number of key players, including Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.

Former Liverpool star Coutinho joined for Barcelona in a deal costing £145 million back in 2018.

Vasco da Gama, who are 13th in the Brazilian top flight after 15 games, will be hoping Coutinho can swiftly connect up with Dimitri Payet, 37, a former West Ham and Marseille great who joined the club in 2023.

Payet has only started four league matches for Vasco do Gama this season due to hamstring injuries since April.