Philippe Coutinho has signed a contract with Santos FC that will keep him at the club until the end of the season. The 34‑year‑old midfielder, who left Vasco da Gama in February, will join his close friend and Brazil teammate Neymar, who returned to his childhood club in January last year.
Coutinho’s return to Santos marks the first time the two have played together at club level. The club celebrated the signing by posting an old photo of the pair as teenagers, followed by a new image of them re‑enacting the pose in a gym. A video of Coutinho walking into the dressing room, where Neymar greeted him with a hug, was also shared.
After a stint at Vasco in 2024, Coutinho departed the club after 81 appearances, citing mental fatigue. He had previously played for Inter Milan, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Aston Villa and Al‑Duhail before returning to Vasco.
With the signing, Santos hopes to boost its attacking options and leverage the chemistry between Coutinho and Neymar as the season progresses.
