Premier League: Philippe Coutinho signs new Liverpool contract

Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho has committed his future to Liverpool by signing a five-year contract with the club. The new deal is worth around £150,000 a week, which makes Coutinho the highest-paid player at the club. Coutinho, aged 24, has joined Liverpool from Inter Milan in January 2013 for just 8.5 million pounds. He has scored 34 goals in 163 appearances for Liverpool. The new contract does not have a release clause, so Liverpool can most likely keep him at the club until 2022. "It is a club that I am very grateful to and this shows my happiness here," Coutinho said after signing the new contract. "I signed this new contract to stay here for a few more years because it's a great honour for me. It gives me great happiness because I was welcomed here with open arms by everyone at the club and the supporters right from my first day." The skillful Brazilian had been linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona but the new contract virtually ends that possibility. "This is wonderful news," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said after the club officially announced the agreement. "He is truly world class - in that very top bracket. He knows he can fulfill his dreams and ambitions here at Liverpool." Coutinho' season has been made difficult by an ankle injury which kept him out of contention for about two months. Before that injury he had scored six goals in fourteen appearances for the club, establishing himself as a key player at Anfield Road. Liverpool are currently 10 points behind leaders Chelsea and they are 12/1 at Bet365 to win the Premier League title this season.