
Philippe Coutinho has finally sealed his move to Barcelona in a £145million transfer from Liverpool.

As our exclusive pictures and video show, the Brazil playmaker has travelled to Spain from London on Saturday evening to put the finishing touches to the deal.

Coutinho has a €400million (£355m) release clause in his five-and-a-half year Barcelona contract.

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Philippe Coutinho steps off his plane in Barcelona ahead of sealing his £145million transfer

Coutinho was beaming as he climbed aboard his plane before flying from London to finally complete his dream move

Coutinho in talks with representative Kia Joorabchian as he prepares to seal his dream switch to Barcelona

The 25-year-old Brazil international Coutinho has agreed a five-and-a-half year contract with Barcelona

Coutinho also has a 400million euro (£355m) release clause inserted into his Barcelona deal

Coutinho pictured alongside his wife Aine ahead of flying out to Spain to complete his move to Barcelona

Coutinho at Liverpool 2012-13 13 games, 3 goals 2013-14 37 games, 5 goals 2014-15 52 games, 8 goals 2015-16 43 games, 12 goals 2016-17 36 games, 14 goals 2017-18 18 games, 12 goals Advertisement

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Coutinho was 'insistent with me, the owners and even his team-mates' on being allowed to leave for Barcelona.

'It is with great reluctance that we – as a team and club – prepare to say farewell to a good friend, a wonderful person and a fantastic player in Philippe Coutinho. It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July, when Barcelona first made their interest known,' Klopp said.

'Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his team-mates this was a move he was desperate to make happen.

'Despite that, we managed to keep the player here beyond the summer window, hoping that we would be able to persuade him to stay and be part of what we are looking to do.

'I can tell the Liverpool supporters that we, as a club, have done everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of LFC was as attractive as moving to Spain, but he is 100 per cent certain his future – and that of his family – belongs at Barcelona. It is his dream and I am now convinced there is nothing left at our disposal to change his mind.'

Barcelona confirmed the deal with a video showing Coutinho's shirt hanging in a locker next to his new team-mates, before later sharing another unveiling clip of them following him on Twitter and Instagram.

Coutinho pictured in London ahead of flying to Barcelona to complete his £145m move from Liverpool

The Brazilian arrives in London en route to Barcelona as he becomes the second most expensive player in football history

Coutinho has joined Barcelona, who are currently running away with the La Liga title

Barcelona confirmed the transfer with a video showing Coutinho's new Barcelona shirt hanging in a locker

Brazil international Coutinho has agreed a five-and-a-half year contract with Barcelona

LFC OFFER TO FANS Liverpool have offered fans who own a 2017-18 shirt with Coutinho's name and number a £50 voucher. Supporters will be able to take the offer up once Coutinho's move is completed. Liverpool say the offer 'reflects the exceptional circumstances behind the player’s departure.' Advertisement

It is the second most expensive transfer of all-time, behind his compatriot Neymar, who left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain in a £198m move last summer.

It is also the biggest-ever fee for a player who did not have a release clause in their contract and represents a handsome profit for Liverpool, who signed Coutinho from Inter Milan for £8.5m in 2013.

The transfer will also break the record for a player sold by an English club, with Barcelona paying around £106m up front and the remainder in add-ons.

Barcelona had been prepared to pay £97.5m up front plus a further £35m in add-ons but Liverpool managed to squeeze more out of the Catalans after last week's Nike website blunder that announced the Brazilian as a Barca player.

The add-ons will see Liverpool earn a further £17.7m once Coutinho has played 100 games, plus smaller payments of £4.4m for each of the first two Champions Leagues he qualifies for and the first two European titles he wins.

Coutinho could make his debut on Thursday in the Spanish Cup against Celta Vigo. He will not be able to play for Barcelona in the Champions League so participation both in the Copa del Rey and La Liga will be important for him ahead of this year's World Cup.

His arrival allows Andres Iniesta - the player he has been bought to replace in the long-term – to rest for European competition. It also reunites him with Luis Suarez who he formed a close friendship with on Merseyside.

Barcelona wanted to sign Coutinho from Liverpool last summer and now they have finally got their man

Coutinho celebrates scoring his last goal for Liverpool against Swansea City in their Boxing Day win

The Brazilian jumps for joy after scoring in Liverpool's Premier League match with Southampton in November

Klopp was adamant last summer that Coutinho would not be allowed to leave and rejected a number of bids from Barcelona which went as high as £114m.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group took the unusual step of releasing a statement declaring the player would not be sold in that transfer window.

Coutinho leaves Anfield having scored 54 goals in 200 matches for Liverpool, though he didn't win any silverware.

Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup third round on Friday evening, thanks to a goal from their new £75m central defender Virgil van Dijk.

Coutinho was not part of Klopp's matchday squad.