Aston Villa attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho has signed for Vasco da Gama after being on loan at his hometown club last season.

Villa, then managed by Steven Gerrard, signed Coutinho permanently from Barcelona for £17m in 2022, six months after initially bringing him on loan.

The 33-year-old, who had one year left on his contract at Villa Park, scored six goals in 43 appearances for the West Midlands club – but spent the past two campaigns out on loan at A-Duhail in Qatar and Brazilian side Vasco respectively.

Coutinho, who has also played for Inter Milan and Liverpool, made an instant impact at Villa, scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United and ending the 2021-22 season with five goals and three assists.

He had cost Barcelona £142m, a club record, in 2018 but struggled in a disappointing four-year stay at the Nou Camp, which was hampered by a serious knee injury.