Neymar signs an old friend

Philippe Coutinho, a 34-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder, has reached an agreement to sign for Santos as a free agent with a contract until the end of 2026. The player will undergo a medical examination this Friday, September 11 before signing his new contract.

The deal initially involves a three-month contract and comes after Coutinho became a free agent following his time at Vasco da Gama in February. Santos accelerated the negotiations this week with the involvement of Neymar, who expressly requested his friend's arrival.

Philippe Coutinho returns to football with Santos

The operation will be completed without a transfer fee because Philippe Coutinho has been without a club since February. The attacking midfielder's last match was on February 14 when he played for Vasco in the Campeonato Carioca against Volta Redonda.

Inactivity is one of the factors explaining the medical check-up before finalizing the signing. Coutinho has maintained his physical conditioning since leaving Vasco but has been without competition for almost seven months, prompting Santos to verify his condition before integrating him into the team.

The player terminated his contract with Vasco after accumulating 44 matches and 8 goals since returning to the club in 2024. His previous contract, signed in July 2025, was supposed to last until June 2026.

For Santos, the agreement also aligns with a recent trend of short-term contracts. Arthur Melo and Lima arrived this transfer window with four-month commitments, while Coutinho will follow a similar formula until the end of the season.

Neymar reunites with his old friend

Coutinho's arrival is directly linked to Neymar, who was involved in the negotiations through NR Sports, his family company that initiated the contacts to facilitate the agreement. The Santos player had publicly requested the attacking midfielder's incorporation days before the deal's closure.

Neymar and Coutinho had previously shared a team with Brazil and have maintained a personal relationship since their youth. They will now reunite at Santos, although the forward is currently injured and has an estimated recovery period of between four and eight weeks.

This signing is significant considering Santos' current sports situation. The club currently sits in 13th place in the Brasileirao with 32 points while also competing in the Copa Sudamericana.

The next step will be Philippe Coutinho's medical examination on September 11. If no issues arise during the tests, Santos will finalize the player's registration and will be able to utilize him for the final stretch of 2026, with Neymar awaiting his recovery to once again share the field with his old friend.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Neymar "ficha" a un viejo amigo