Aston Villa have completed the signing of Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona after the Brazilian successfully obtained a work permit.
The Premier League club announced on Tuesday evening that transfer formalities, including the option to buy, have now been processed and the 29-year-old will "spend the rest of this season on loan at Villa Park".
Coutinho, who has also played for Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, cannot wait to join his new club, where former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard is now manager.
"Glad to be here, it's a great club," the Brazilian said on www.avfc.co.uk.
“I talked a lot with Stevie, the manager, and he told me about the club and their ambitions. I am very happy to be here and I want to enjoy my football.
"I've known Stevie for a long time. I played with him and I learned a lot from him.
"He's someone I admire a lot for. I hope to do my best here. Of course, I'll work hard, and I hope we can do a great job together."
Coutinho is confident he can make a big mark in England's top flight again.
"I look forward to meeting the fans, being on the pitch. I know and I think they are happy that I am here," he said.
"I want to pay it off on the pitch and enjoy my football. I look forward to being on the pitch.
"I always want to be at my best, doing my job. That's what I work hard on every day. I hope it will be a nice rest of the season here."
Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2018 in a deal worth 146 million euros ($A198m), but struggled at the Nou Camp and spent 2019-20 on loan at Bayern.
Despite helping Barca win La Liga in 2018 and 2019, he never found the form he displayed in the Premier League.
Coutinho, who became Gerrard's first signing at Villa since leaving Rangers in November to replace Dean Smith, could make his debut when Villa face Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday.