Philippe Coutinho

[Shaggy]

Liverpool Football Club are delighted to confirm the signing of Inter Milan midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

The 20-year-old becomes the Reds' second signing of the January transfer window after penning a long-term contract with the club and follows the arrival of Daniel Sturridge.

Afterwards, he explained to Liverpoolfc.com why he's delighted to have secured a switch to Anfield.

Coutinho said: "I'm feeling very happy, it's a very important step in my career and I'm expecting to come here and play good football to give my contribution on the pitch.

"Liverpool is a great club with great players. We've always heard about Liverpool's history in Brazil. They are the club that have been interested in me and that have showed this interest so I know they believe in me and my football."

Coutinho, who has one cap for Brazil, began his career at Vasco da Gama before moving to Inter Milan in 2010.

He has also spent time on loan in Spain at Espanyol.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said: "We're always delighted when we get the players we go after.

"It has been a successful transfer window for us, coming off the back of acquiring Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea and now Philippe from Inter Milan.

"I think that bodes well for us for the rest of the season and the future."

Coutinho will be the fifth Brazilian to represent Liverpool after Fabio Aurelio, Diego Cavalieri, Doni and Lucas Leiva.

[cream]

...

[Pablo]

Coutinho will be the fifth Brazilian to represent Liverpool after Fabio Aurelio, Diego Cavalieri, Doni and Lucas Leiva.

He's our first "proper" Brazilian though isn't he! All flair and tricks, can't wait!

[Tee]

Welcome our Brazilian No.10!!!!

YNWA

[Reece]

Lovely stuff

[Gaz]

Glad we've wrapped this up, another promising attacking player brought in

[cream]

Never in doubt.

[Chris]

Immense. He's going to threaten Kenny's GOAT status. Maybe.

[Shaggy]

How much do you know about new Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho? Find out more with our in-depth profile of the Brazilian.

Born on June 12, 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Philippe Coutinho joined one of the Brazilian city's biggest clubs, Vasco da Gama, during his formative years.

Coutinho's talent was evident from an early age, with comparisons being made in his homeland to several of Brazil's modern stars - including Kaka and Ronaldinho - due to the attacking midfielder's deft touch and creativity.

Alerted to his potential at 16 years old, Europe's heavyweight clubs battled for his signature and it was Italian giants Inter Milan who won the race to conclude a transfer worth around €4million in 2008.

Due to Italian rules, Coutinho was ineligible for his new club until his 18th birthday so remained at Vasco to continue his education. In 2009, he helped Brazil's U17 side claim South American spoils, scoring in the final against Argentina.

Coutinho appeared for Vasco on 43 occasions in total, netting five goals, before his transfer to Inter - then managed by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez - was completed in the summer of 2010.

"He is a young player with lots of quality. He can be the future of the club and we expect him to do very well for us," said Benitez when the Brazilian arrived at the San Siro.

Capable of playing in any forward position, Coutinho was regularly used in a wide role by I Nerazzurri - making his debut in the Uefa Super Cup and racking up 20 games and a single goal in 2010-11.

The Brazilian enjoyed further international success in 2011, featuring in all seven matches and finding the target three times as the U20 side lifted the U20 World Cup in Colombia.

Injuries would hamper the midfielder's progress into the Inter first team, with just eight appearances the following season before the Italians loaned Coutinho to Spanish outfit Espanyol for the second half of 2011-12.

There he thrived - under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino, the diminutive attacker played consistently and struck five goals before returning to Inter with a first-team spot in his sights.

During 2012-13, Coutinho was largely used in the Europa League by boss Andrea Stramaccioni, striking twice as the Italians qualified for the knockout stages.

Then after weeks of speculation regarding his future, the 20-year-old completed a move to Anfield in January 2013 as Brendan Rodgers further honed his Liverpool forward options.

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/the-reds-new-brazilian-in-profile

[Pablo]

Nice that we confirmed it at almost the exact time Everton confirmed the Fer deal had collapsed

[Shaggy]

Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho became a Liverpool player today. Here are 10 facts about our new boy...

1. The 20-year-old's full name is Philippe Coutinho Correia. He becomes the fifth Brazilian to represent Liverpool, following in the footsteps of compatriots Fabio Aurelio, Diego Cavalieri, Doni and Lucas.

2. Coutinho has two older brothers, both of whom are professional lawyers. The trio of siblings developed a tradition during childhood which they still adhere to - after every game, they spend time watching and assessing Philippe's latest performance.

3. The attacking midfielder has made one full international appearance for his country to date, playing 45 minutes for Brazil in a 3-0 friendly victory over Iran in October 2010. New teammate Lucas Leiva also featured in that fixture.

4. At the U20 World Cup in Colombia two years ago, Coutinho featured in all seven matches for Brazil, who won the tournament by beating Portugal in the final. He was on target three times in the group stage, converting a penalty against Austria and notching twice past Panama. In the quarter-final with Spain, Coutinho narrowly missed the chance to face Daniel Pacheco, who was introduced as a substitute after the Brazilian had left the field.

5. His arrival at Anfield continues Coutinho's recent trend of working with young managers. During his loan spell at Espanyol, the midfielder was coached by 40-year-old Mauricio Pochettino. The current Inter Milan boss is Andrea Stramaccioni, aged 37, while new manager Brendan Rodgers celebrated his 40th birthday this month.

6. The signing of Coutinho increases the crop of South American players at Anfield to five, joining Sebastian Coates and Luis Suarez of Uruguay, plus Brazilians Lucas and Doni. Aside from Lucas, who joined the Reds in 2007, all have been brought to the club within the past two years.

7. Coutinho has developed a reputation as a dead-ball specialist due to his accuracy from set-piece situations. His first goal for Inter Milan came from a precise, curling free-kick against Fiorentina in May 2011.

8. Coutinho has previously worn 7 and 29 at Inter, currently worn by Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini respectively at Anfield. The Brazilian sported No.23 at Espanyol - worn with distinction by Jamie Carragher for Liverpool.

9. Coutinho has a significant presence online and on social media. The former Vasco da Gama man has his own official website, 150,000 followers of his Twitter account, and an individual YouTube profile.

10. Born on June 12, Coutinho shares a birthday with two former Liverpool players. The late Tom Gracie represented the Reds from 1912 to 1914, while more recently Antonio Barragan made a single appearance for the club before returning to Spain.

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/10-facts-about-philippe-coutinho

[Alex]

Reece, you may as well bin off that banning stuff you were sorting out. Its not needed now.

[Shaggy]

[~LFCHistory~]

Good news. Forward line strengthened once again this month.

Well done BR and FSG.

[Gaz]

Nice that we confirmed it at almost the exact time Everton confirmed the Fer deal had collapsed

Just hope the fans give him time to settle in to the premier league and don't expect too much too soon