RIO DE JANEIRO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Vasco da Gama has signed Philippe Coutinho on a free transfer after the midfielder parted ways with Aston Villa, the Brazilian Serie A club said on Friday.

The 33-year-old former Brazil international agreed a one-year deal, securing a permanent return to his boyhood club following a loan spell that began last July.

"This is a moment of great happiness," Coutinho said on Vasco's official website. "Vasco is my home. It's the place where I was raised, studied, grew up and that my family and I love. May it be a year of hard work wearing this shirt and with my teammates."

Earlier on Friday, Villa confirmed the mutual termination of Coutinho's contract, which had been due to run until June 2026.

Coutinho made 43 appearances for the Premier League side, scoring six goals and providing three assists.

"Everyone at Aston Villa would like to thank Philippe for his service to the club and wish him all the best in his future career," the club said in a statement.

Coutinho, who has 68 Brazil caps, began his professional career at Vasco in 2008 before joining Inter Milan in 2010. He later played for Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, among other clubs. ■