This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
Bayern Munich have made a significant move in the transfer market by signing Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona for the 2019/20 season.
The loan deal, which was confirmed on Monday, sees Bayern pay a loan fee of 8.5 million euros (7.8 million pounds) and take on Coutinho's wages. The German club also has the option to make the deal permanent for a fee of 120 million euros.
Coutinho, who joined Barcelona in January 2018 for a club record fee of 120 million euros plus 45 million euros in variables, struggled to make an impact at the Camp Nou. Despite winning two consecutive La Liga titles, he played only 76 games for the Catalans, scoring 21 goals.
“FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich have reached an agreement for the loan of the player Philippe Coutinho to the German club for the 2019/20 season,” Barcelona said in a statement.
“Barcelona would like to thank to publicly thank Philippe Coutinho for his commitment and dedication wishes him all the best in this new stage of his career.”
Coutinho, 27, has expressed his hope for better times at Bayern Munich, saying, “In Barcelona a lot of things did not turn out as we had imagined. But this is now history. I hope to stay here a long time and win many titles.”
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge described the price paid for the one-year loan as “very reasonable,” adding, “The 8.5 million is somehow a friendship price.”
With the signing of Coutinho, Bayern Munich look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season, which kicked off with a 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin last weekend.
