LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Premier League champions Liverpool will honour Diogo Jota’s contract in full by paying his family £140,000 per week until June 2027, following the tragic death of the Portuguese striker at the age of 28.
Jota and his brother, André, lost their lives in a fatal car crash in Spain during the early hours of Thursday, July 3. The shocking news has sent waves of grief through the football world, with clubs, players, and fans mourning the loss of a player described as “humble, hardworking, and beloved.”
Jota signed a five-year contract extension with Liverpool in 2022, valued at around £7.2 million per year. With two years remaining on that deal, the club’s gesture to pay out the estimated £14.5 million owed underlines their commitment to supporting the family he leaves behind.
The forward is survived by his wife, Rute Cardoso, his childhood sweetheart whom he married just two weeks before his death, and their three children and Liverpool has also promise to take care of the children’s schooling all through. The couple had been together since their teenage years, building a family as Jota rose to football stardom.
Since joining Liverpool from Wolves in 2020, Jota made 182 appearances, scored 65 goals, and delivered 26 assists. His time at Anfield was decorated with silverware, including the Premier League title in the 2024/25 season, along with the FA Cup and two League Cups.
Liverpool described the decision to honour Jota’s wages as a “moral responsibility” and a way to keep his legacy alive through the care of those he loved most. It’s a rare move in modern football, but one that has been widely praised as a powerful example of humanity over business.
Outside Anfield, supporters have built a growing memorial of flowers, scarves, and letters, while messages of condolence have flooded social media from the global football family.
Funeral is currently ongoing, with tributes coming in at both Portugal and Liverpool.
Rest in power, Diogo Jota.
A Red forever.
