Liverpool have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the £145m transfer of Philippe Coutinho.
As our exclusive pictures show, the Brazilian playmaker is travelling to Spain via London on Saturday evening to put the finishing touches to the deal.
The 25-year-old Coutinho, who has a 400million euro (£355m) in his five-and-a-half year Barcelona contract, is expected to watch his new side’s home La Liga match with Levante on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool said in a statement on Saturday that Coutinho should ‘conclude the transfer immediately.’
PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Philippe Coutinho with wife Aine ahead of his flight to Barcelona
Coutinho in London ahead of flying to Barcelona to complete his £145m move from Liverpool
The Brazilian arrives in London en route to Barcelona as he becomes the second most expensive player in football history
Coutinho is set to join Barcelona, who are currently running away with the La Liga title
Barcelona confirmed the deal shortly after with a video showing Coutinho’s shirt hanging in a locker next to his new team-mates.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Coutinho was ‘insistent with me, the owners and even his teammates’ on being allowed to leave for Barcelona.
‘It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July, when Barcelona first made their interest known,’ Klopp said.
‘Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his teammates this was a move he was desperate to make happen.
‘Despite that, we managed to keep the player here beyond the summer window, hoping that we would be able to persuade him to stay and be part of what we are looking to do.
‘I can tell the Liverpool supporters that we, as a club, have done everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of LFC was as attractive as moving to Spain, but he is 100 per cent certain his future – and that of his family – belongs at Barcelona. It is his dream and I am now convinced there is nothing left at our disposal to change his mind.’
Barcelona confirmed the move with a video showing Coutinho’s shirt hanging in a locker
Brazil international Coutinho has signed a five-and-a-half year contract with Barcelona
It is the second most expensive transfer of all-time, behind his compatriot Neymar, who left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain in a £198m move last summer.
It is also the biggest-ever fee for a player who did not have a release clause in their contract and represents a handsome profit for Liverpool, who signed Coutinho from Inter Milan for £8.5m in 2013.
The transfer will also break the record for a player sold by an English club, with Barcelona paying around £106m up front and the remainder in add-ons.
Barcelona had been prepared to pay £97.5m up front plus a further £35m in add-ons but Liverpool managed to squeeze more out of the Catalans after last week’s Nike website blunder that announced the Brazilian as a Barca player.
The add-ons will see Liverpool earn a further £17.7m once Coutinho has played 100 games, plus smaller payments of £4.4m for each of the first two Champions Leagues he qualifies for and the first two European titles he wins.
If he signs at the start of this week he could make his debut on Thursday in the Spanish Cup against Celta Vigo.
He will not be able to play for Barcelona in the Champions League so participation both in the Copa del Rey and La Liga will be important for him ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
His arrival allows Andres Iniesta – the player he has been bought to replace in the long-term – to rest for European competition. It also reunites him with Luis Suarez who he formed a close friendship with on Merseyside.
Barcelona wanted Coutinho last summer and now they have finally got their man
Coutinho celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Swansea City in their Boxing Day win
The Brazilian jumps for joy after scoring in Liverpool’s match with Southampton in November
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was adamant last summer that Coutinho would not be allowed to leave and rejected a number of bids from Barcelona which went as high as £114m.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group took the unusual step of releasing a statement declaring the player would not be sold in that transfer window.
However, Liverpool’s stand has since softened, paving the way for the deal to take place now.
Coutinho leaves Anfield having scored 54 goals in 200 matches for Liverpool, though he didn’t win any silverware.
Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup third round on Friday evening, thanks to a goal from their new £75m central defender Virgil van Dijk.
Coutinho was not part of Klopp’s matchday squad.