Philippe Coutinho press conference LIVE: Barcelona complete £142m deal as ex-Liverpool star signs contract
Follow the latest from Coutinho's first press conference as a Barcelona player
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Your support makes all the difference.Philippe Coutinho was unveiled by Barcelona on Monday morning after the Spanish side completed an astounding £142m transfer for the Brazil international from Liverpool.
The deal, which makes Coutinho the second-most expensive player in history behind £200m Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, was completed late last week, with the attacking midfielder travelling to Barcelona over the weekend to complete the deal.
The 25-year-old underwent a medical this morning, and will sign his new five-and-a-half-year contract that will be worth around £250,000-a-week, with a buy-out clause of €400m [£355m].
Follow the latest from his unveiling and first press conference live below...
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Here's a reminder of how the unveiling will unfold:
Now: Coutinho is on his way to the Presidential Anteroom where he will officially put pen to paper on his five-and-a-half year contract.
12pm: Barcelona will carry out the official presentation of Coutinho, which will take place in the Roma Lounge.
12:45pm: Coutinho will take to the Nou Camp pitch for his public unveiling, where he'll carry out the usual new-signing keepy-uppys for the fans inside the stadium.
1:30pm: Coutinho will hold his first press conference inside the Barcelona media room.
Who wins from this deal?
- Liverpool make a £130m+ profit on signing Coutinho, but lose a great player
- Barcelona spend two-thirds of the money they received for selling Neymar
- The Brazilian will miss at least three weeks with a thigh injury
We'll be hosting a Facebook Live with our chief football writer, Miguel Delaney, immediately after the press conference, and you can get your questions in for him on all things Coutinho, Liverpool and Barcelona to have them answered this afternoon.
Coutinho spoke last night to Barcelona's in-house TV channel to discuss just why this is a "dream move" for him, having grown up as a Barcelona fan on the streets of Rio de Janeiro where he developed his remarkable ability that has dazzled fans at Anfield over the last four years.
Here's what he said:
Coutinho has arrived at the Presidential Anteroom and has just this second signed his Barcelona contract.
HE IS OFFICIALLY A BARCELONA PLAYER!
The backdrop for Coutinho's pitch presentation is being erected on the Nou Camp turf as we speak, and hundreds of supporters have gathered to witness his unveiling - although tickets were limited for those lucky enough to attend.
Saying that, it means that the 98,000-capacity Nou Camp is predominantly empty this afternoon.
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu unveils his latest acquisition in Coutinho, with the former Liverpool man standing beside him, and invites the Brazilian to take to the podium and give his first words as a Barcelona player.
I wish we could replay these to you, but it appears that the Barcelona Facebook page is unable to cope with the live stream, meaning that no one can hear what is being said.
Needless to say, fans are not pleased...
Do not fear, we're back!
Someone at Barcelona remembers to put a penny in the meter and the stream is back up and running. Coutinho is posing for photographs with the Barcelona board as well as holding up his new shirt - which he pressed himself just minutes before his unveiling - and will take to the pitch in about 20 minutes' time.
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