Official: Coutinho joins Santos to play with Neymar

Santos has made Philippe Coutinho’s signing official, bringing the former Barça man to the club with a special twist: reuniting in the same dressing room with Neymar. As Mundo Deportivo reports, the player linked up with the Peixe after training with the squad and completing the medical tests ahead of the contract.

Neymar’s push

The piece says the deal is part of a bet backed by Neymar, giving Coutinho the chance to prove—despite being 34—that he can still perform at the highest level. Mundo Deportivo also highlights the celebration: Neymar marked the agreement with an embrace after the transfer was finalized.

Short contract, recent inactivity

Coutinho signs through December, matching the short timeline of Arthur, another former Barça player who completes the trio in Santos’ squad. Mundo Deportivo adds context on his recent run: since February 14, he hadn’t played an official match, with Vasco. The club’s cautious approach is linked, the report says, to the reason Coutinho stepped back from professional football: mental health.

Now the question is how quickly Coutinho settles into the team and whether he can build the minutes he needs to make a real impact.