Barcelona has confirmed that Philippe Coutinho has a thigh injury and will not be able to make his debut for the club for around three weeks.

The 25-year-old Brazil international star who completed his €160 million move – a record signing for the Camp Nou side – from Liverpool was told of the news on Monday after undergoing medical.

The medical revealed a right thigh problem that the club expects to keep him sidelined for three weeks, having missed his final match for Liverpool, an FA Cup derby against Everton, because of injury.

The switch to Spain will see Coutinho become the second most expensive footballer in history after Liverpool and Barca agreed on a deal for the playmaker which could be worth up to £142million.

It is the biggest transfer fee involving a British club and is also the most Barca have ever paid for a player, eclipsing the £96.8million – rising to a possible £135.5million – they splashed out on Borussia Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembele last August.

Coutinho’s compatriot Neymar is the world’s costliest player following his £200.6million switch from Barca to Paris St Germain.

Barca has had to bide their time to secure Coutinho’s services, having seen a £118million bid rejected by Liverpool in August after making him their number one target to replace Neymar.

Coutinho also handed in a transfer request at the time in an attempt to force a move but was unsuccessful.

Barca maintained their interest in the former Inter Milan man, though, and on Saturday the clubs announced a deal had been struck.

If Coutinho, who spent six months on loan at Barca’s city rivals Espanyol from Inter in 2012, is unavailable for the remainder of the month then he would miss at least four LaLiga and Copa del Rey games for his new employers.