Liverpool FC to honour late Diogo Jota's contract, offers full support to bereaved family after tragic accident | VIDEO
Madrid: Liverpool Football Club has announced a profound gesture of support for the family of Diogo Jota, the gifted Portuguese forward who tragically died in a car accident in Spain on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The club has committed to fulfilling the remaining two years of Jota's contract, providing crucial financial stability to his bereaved family.
Diogo Jota, aged 28, was killed alongside his brother, Andre Silva, 26, when their high-performance Lamborghini sports car veered off the A-52 highway near Zamora, Spain, and tragically burst into flames.
The heartbreaking incident occurred just over two weeks after Jota's wedding to his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22, 2025. He was driving from Portugal towards Santander, Spain, to catch an overnight ferry to England for Liverpool's pre-season training, opting for the road journey as a precaution. His brother, Andre Silva, was also a professional footballer, playing as an attacking midfielder for F.C. Penafiel in Portugal's second division.
Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers, quickly became a pivotal figure for the Reds, making 182 appearances and scoring 65 goals. He was instrumental in recent successes, including winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup titles. His latest contract, signed in August 2022, reportedly had two years remaining, with a weekly wage of approximately £140,000.10 Liverpool's decision to honour this full contract payout, estimated at around £14.6 million, has been widely lauded as a testament to the club's deep commitment and loyalty to its players.
The football world has been united in mourning and tribute following the tragedy. Liverpool FC promptly issued a statement expressing its devastation, requesting privacy for the family, and assuring them of the club's full support. They have suspended all promotional and media activities and plan a memorial to honour Jota at Anfield. Fans have already gathered at the stadium, laying flowers, shirts, and scarves in tribute. The city of Liverpool flew its town hall flag at half-mast, and UEFA announced a minute's silence before matches at the Women's European Championship. Tributes have also poured in from current and former teammates, including Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Thiago Alcantara, highlighting Jota's beloved character both on and off the pitch.