Aston Villa player trains with another club despite no transfer agreement being reached

Philippe Coutinho Trains with Vasco da Gama as Villa Exit Nears – Permanent Transfer Still Not Finalised

 

Philippe Coutinho is currently training with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama, even though a permanent agreement with his parent club, Aston Villa, has yet to be finalised. According to Brazilian outlet O Dia, the experienced midfielder is still locked in talks over terminating his contract with the Premier League club.

 

Coutinho, now 33, spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Vasco and has made it clear that he wishes to remain with the Rio de Janeiro outfit on a full-time basis. The loan officially expired on Monday, but all indications suggest that both the player and the club are hopeful of finding a solution that allows him to continue in Brazil long-term.

 

At the heart of the matter is the negotiation over the termination of Coutinho’s current deal with Aston Villa. The goal is to reach a mutual agreement that would allow the former Liverpool and Barcelona star to move to Vasco on a free transfer, avoiding the need for the Brazilian side to pay a fee.

 

Discussions remain ongoing as all parties work towards finding a financially viable solution. Should the contract termination not materialise, a fallback plan is already in place: securing a second loan spell for the 2025/26 season. Aston Villa are reportedly open to either option and are not placing any roadblocks in Coutinho’s way, indicating a willingness to facilitate his return to Brazil.

 

In the meantime, Villa have granted Coutinho permission to continue training with Vasco while the situation unfolds. This temporary arrangement, with Villa’s full cooperation, suggests that relations between the player and both clubs remain positive, and that an agreement—whether it be a release or a renewed loan—is likely to be reached soon.

 

What’s causing the delay in finalising the deal remains unclear. It could be related to the financial terms of Coutinho’s current contract, or possibly disagreements over compensation or contract length with Vasco. Nonetheless, the shared expectation is that a resolution will come in the near future.

 

For now, Coutinho continues to train with the club he hopes to call home again next season, while fans await official confirmation of what seems to be an inevitable permanent return to Brazilian football.