Liverpool, England – Liverpool confirmed on Wednesday the club has completed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho from Serie A side Inter Milan.
Coutinho makes the move to the Premier League for a fee believed to be around 8.5 million pounds after being granted a work permit by the British government.
"I'm feeling very happy," Coutinho told the club's official website. "Liverpool is a great club with great players. We've always heard about Liverpool's history in Brazil. I know they believe in me and my football."
Coutinho was purchased by Milan at the age of 16, but was returned to his former club, Vasco da Gama, because foreign players are prohibited from playing professionally in Italy until they are 18.
Once he did return to the Serie A, he struggled to find consistent minutes and spent half a season on loan with Spanish side Espanyol.
Coutinho becomes Liverpool's second signing of the January transfer window, joining striker Daniel Sturridge, who made the move to Anfield from Chelsea.
"We're always delighted when we get the players we go after," Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said. "It has been a very successful transfer window for us, coming off the back of acquiring Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea and now Philippe from Inter Milan."
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