Liverpool Football Club has announced plans to honor Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident earlier this month, with a permanent memorial sculpture at Anfield. The Premier League champions confirmed the memorial on Saturday, stating that the sculpture will be created using recyclable materials from the thousands of tributes left by fans outside Anfield. These tributes include flowers, artwork, cards, banners, and even jerseys from opposing teams.
Jota and his brother, André Silva, died in a car crash on July 3rd while traveling in northwestern Spain. The accident occurred as they were driving to a ferry port to return to England for pre-season training.
In response to the tragedy, Liverpool fans gathered at Anfield to pay their respects, leaving a sea of tributes to honor Jota's memory. The club has carefully removed and stored these items, with floral tributes to be composted and used in flower beds at Anfield, the AXA Training Centre, and the AXA Melwood Training Centre. The remaining items will be recycled by a specialist company to create the permanent memorial sculpture. The sculpture will serve as a lasting focal point of remembrance at Anfield.
In addition to the sculpture, Liverpool will also honor Jota with a "Forever 20" emblem on the new kit for the 2025-26 season. The emblem, referencing Jota's jersey number, will also appear on players' shirts and stadium jackets throughout the season. Liverpool had already announced the retirement of Jota's No. 20 jersey across all levels of the club, including LFC Women and the Academy.
Furthermore, for fans who wish to print "Diogo J 20" on the back of their shirts from the club's official store, the proceeds will be donated to the LFC Foundation. The LFC Foundation has also committed to creating a grassroots football program in Jota's name.
Liverpool is planning a special fan mosaic and a minute of silence at the season opener against Bournemouth on August 15th at Anfield. Tributes will also be paid at the pre-season game against Atletico Bilbao on August 4th at Anfield, while players' shirts will feature a "Diogo J 20" patch for the pre-season games in Asia. Floral tributes will be laid before kickoff at the pre-season games in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Anfield.
Diogo Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 and made 182 appearances for the club. During his time with Liverpool, he contributed to the team's success, including winning the FA Cup, two Carabao Cups, and the Premier League title.
These tributes reflect the profound impact Jota had on Liverpool Football Club and its supporters. The permanent sculpture at Anfield will ensure that his memory lives on for generations to come.
