Liverpool Football Club has retired the number 20 jersey in honour of its former striker, Diogo Jota.
A statement by the club on Friday, signed by its CEO, Michael Edwards, confirmed that the number 20 will no longer be assigned to any other player in the club’s history.
”As a club, we all are acutely aware of our supporters- and we felt exactly the same way,” the statement partly read.
”By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal and therefore never to be forgotten. “Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20- and he wore with honour, distinction and affection- the number 20.”
The 28-year-old forward, alongside his 25-year-old brother and Panafiel midfielder Andre Silva, died in a fatal motor crash last Thursday while Jota was returning to Liverpool for the pre-season after being advised not to fly by his doctor due to a minor surgery he had undergone.
They were making the trip by car and ferry when their Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout, overtaking another car and veering off the road before catching fire.
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club.
He also helped Liverpool win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022, as well as the Premier League title last season.
