Aston Villa confirms the permanent signing of Coutinho while Barcelona accepts a £130 million loss.
The midfield player’s stay has been extended following an outstanding loan period.
The permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona has been announced by Aston Villa.
After coming to the team on loan in January, Coutinho made an immediate impression in the Premier League.
The amount that Aston Villa paid Barcelona in exchange for long-term Coutinho retention, €20 million ($21 million/£17 million), was revealed by Barcelona in a statement.
Coutinho has enjoyed a revival at Villa Park in recent months, with seven goal involvements in 16 Premier League appearances.
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, his performance has catapulted him back into the conversation regarding the Brazil national team.
Although prominent Barcelona players have not usually ended up at Aston Villa, Coutinho is different because he has a close bond with Gerrard and excelled in his first Premier League season.
Given that Coutinho is still only 29 years old, Aston Villa will be hoping that he has moved past his injury problems and can continue to perform well after this season.
Aston Villa has one transfer they could finish to increase their FFP right away.
Get all the most recent information about Aston Villa as BirminghamLive examines Tim Iroegbunam’s future as a young midfielder and clubs continue to maintain financial balance.
As Premier League clubs strive to adhere to profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR), Aston Villa may be able to capitalize on yet another homegrown talent.
Teams in the English Premier League were required to submit their most recent financial statements by December 31. A determination regarding any possible rule violations was made two weeks later. Villa escaped any problems, but Everton and Nottingham Forest were later charged for their losses over a three-year period.
Even though clubs escaped punishment this time, they will keep an eye on their spending over the course of the following year in an effort to prevent situations similar to the ten-point deduction the Toffees received earlier in the campaign. Sales of quality youth products that have advanced through their respective academies have been one way for clubs like Villa, Chelsea, and Manchester City to balance their books over the three-year period.
Jack Grealish, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cameron Archer, Jadon Philogene, Aaron Ramsey, and most recently Finn Azaz to Middlesbrough are among the players that Villa has parted ways with. which are all transactions that bring in a sizable profit for the team because of the low or nonexistent price they had to pay for the players, who
Tim Iroegbunam, a midfield player, has been linked to a move away from Villa, so the club may be ready to cash in on their next prospect. Villa are ‘open’ to selling the defensive midfield player permanently, according to Darren Witcoop of the Mirror. The player spent the previous season on loan at Queens Park Rangers.
After paying an undisclosed amount to join Villa from nearby rivals West Bromwich Albion in 2021, Iroegbunam, then 20 years old, flourished in the U23 team before former manager Steven Gerrard gave him his first-team debut. Iroegbunam has only made one appearance for the 2023–24 season, and even though he has been on the bench eight times this season, his first team opportunities have been limited.
First team minutes have been hard to come by because Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Leander Dendoncker are currently ahead of Iroegbunam in the club’s pecking order. Despite the potential these young players have shown, as demonstrated by the transfer departures of Archer and Philogene, Villa will always be willing to let go of academy products if they are not contributing significantly to the team, especially if doing so will help them financially in the long run.
Like Ramsey, Archer, and Philogene, the England U20 international has demonstrated throughout his time at Loftus Road that he is capable of making a significant contribution. After making an impression in matches against Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion, he signed a new long-term contract with Villa back in 2022. As a result, Villa is expected to fetch a good price for any potential sale they decide to pursue.
