Chelsea players will donate part of their Club World Cup bonus to late Diogo Jota’s family.
Liverpool also announced lasting tributes, including retiring his iconic No. 20 shirt permanently.
Chelsea’s first-team squad has pledged to donate a portion of their £11.4 million Club World Cup bonus to the family of former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident last month at the age of 28.
The Blues, led by manager Enzo Maresca, secured the tournament title, with each of the 24 players set to receive £475,000. In a heartfelt gesture, the players chose to share part of their earnings with Jota’s wife, Rute, after the devastating accident that also took the lives of his brother, Andre Silva, and his three young children. The amount they plan to contribute has not been revealed.
Liverpool, where Jota made 182 appearances and scored 65 goals, has announced several tributes in his honor. The club will unveil a sculpture of the Portuguese winger outside Anfield and hold a minute’s silence before Friday’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth. Throughout the 2025/26 season, players will carry a ‘Forever 20’ emblem on their shirts, while Jota’s iconic No. 20 has been permanently retired from use at every level of the club.
FSG CEO Michael Edwards said the gesture reflects the deep connection between Jota and the Liverpool fanbase: “It was important to involve Rute and the family in this decision. Diogo came to us in 2020, helped deliver our 20th title, and wore the No. 20 shirt with pride and love for the club. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will always be our number 20.”
