Barcelona unable to sign Liverpool players for the next two seasons
According to Cadena Ser, Barça agreed not to acquire players from the Premier outfit for three years as part of the Coutinho deal.
According to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Barcelona agreed not to sign any Liverpool player, unless the Anfield side are in agreement with the move, for a total of three seasons as part of the transfer of Coutinho to the Camp Nou. The English club were insistent on the clause, of which one season has now passed, meaning Barcelona cannot sign Liverpool players for another two seasons.
Coutinho joined Barcelona for 160 million euros
Coutinho signed for Barcelona on 6 January 2018 after a lengthy transfer battle with Liverpool. Barça shelled out 160 million euros for the Brazilian, who signed to 2023, with a 400 million buy-out clause.
The player’s arrival at the Camp Nou put an end to a soap opera that started in August 2017, just after Neymar had moved to PSG for 222 million euros.
Coutinho finally forced move to Barcelona
That summer, Liverpool refused to allow the player to move, although the final deal was very similar to what the Premier League club finally accepted in the winter, and in the face of the player’s repeated requests to be allowed to leave. Klopp however stood firm and Coutinho was forced to play the first half of 2017-18 season for Liverpool, meaning he was unable to play in the Champions League for Barcelona once he had moved.