
Liverpool players to wear 'Forever 20' patches in Jota's memory
The club also announced on Saturday a special commemoration including a fan mosaic and a minute's silence ahead of Liverpool's opening game of the season against Bournemouth on August 15.
Thousands of flowers, scarves, banners and other tributes have been laid outside Anfield since Jota and his brother Andre Silva died.
The club said they have been removed over the past week and stored, while the floral tributes will be composted and used in flower beds across club sites, including Anfield, the AXA Training Centre and AXA Melwood Training Centre.
The remaining artefacts will be recycled and used to create a permanent memorial sculpture that will become a focal point of remembrance at Anfield.
Liverpool had already announced after consultation with Jota's family that his number 20 shirt will be retired across all levels of the club, including the women's and academy teams.
Supporters can have "Diogo J. 20" printed on shirts in club stores, with profits going to LFC Foundation, the club's official charity. The Foundation has committed to creating a grassroots football programme in Jota's name.
A floral tribute will be also laid before kickoff at pre-season games in Hong Kong, Tokyo and at Anfield.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The National
11 hours ago
- The National
Son Heung-min makes 'one of the most difficult decisions' to leave Tottenham this summer
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has decided to bring his 10-year spell with the Premier League club to an end this summer. Son joined the North London club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and is under contract until 2026. He led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May. While the 33-year-old South Korean star did not disclose his next destination, reports in Britain have linked him with a move to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. 'I have decided to leave the team this summer,' Son said at a press conference ahead of Spurs' pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul on Sunday. 'I think it was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made in my football career. Playing football and being with one team for 10 years is something I am very proud of, but I think I gave my all to the team every single day. 'I did my best on the field and off the field, and by winning the Europa League, I thought I'd done everything I could have achieved.' Son has made 454 appearances for Spurs and scored 173 goals. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season. 'It was the place where I grew a lot as a football player and a person, so I have a very grateful heart.' Speaking in Korean, Son said that winning a European trophy played 'a big part' in his thinking. 'Winning a title in Europe felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could,' he said. 'I spent a lot of time reflecting on whether I wanted to experience football in a different environment, and I had those conversations with myself over and over again. 'I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English and leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment,' added Son, who fought back tears during his announcement. 'So I just want to say thank you to all of the Spurs fans that gave me so much love and felt like it was my home.' New Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, who joined Spurs from Brentford in June, paid tribute to the South Korean skipper. 'For me, personally, I would have loved to have worked with this fantastic person and player,' said the Dane, who took over from the sacked Ange Postecoglou. 'He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect, one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League.' Spurs will face Newcastle on Sunday in Seoul, and Son is guaranteed a rapturous reception in front of his home fans. Spurs have had a fairly quiet summer in the transfer market so far, with attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus from West Ham their only major acquisition. Morgan Gibbs-White had looked set to follow from Nottingham Forest but a £60 million move broke down.


Dubai Eye
13 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Spurs captain Son says he's leaving the club
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min will bring his 10-year spell with the Premier League club to an end this summer, the 33-year-old South Korean said on Saturday. Son, who is under contract until 2026, led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years with their win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May, having joined the North London club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. While Son did not disclose his next destination, British media have linked him with a move to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. "I have decided to leave the team this summer," Son said at a press conference ahead of Spurs' pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul on Sunday. "I think it was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made in my football career. Playing football and being with one team for 10 years is something I am very proud of, but I think I gave my all to the team every single day. "I did my best on the field and off the field, and by winning the Europa League, I thought I'd done everything I could and achieved." Son has made 454 appearances for Spurs and scored 173 goals. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season. "It was the place where I grew a lot as a football player and a person, so I have a very grateful heart." Manager Thomas Frank said Son was "truly Spurs legend in every aspect". "I like that the club has been open to it because it is never, never easy to find that perfect timing ... I think it is probably the perfect timing going out on a high," he added.


Gulf Today
14 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Newcastle reject Liverpool opening bid to sign striker Isak, say reports
Newcastle have rejected Liverpool's opening bid to sign unsettled Sweden striker Alexander Isak, according to reports on Friday. Isak has been training at his old club Real Sociedad this week after reportedly telling Newcastle he wants to leave St James' Park. The 25-year-old has been linked with Liverpool since the end of last season and the Premier League champions are now believed to have formalised their interest with an offer of around £110 million ($159 million) plus potential add-ons. But Newcastle, who reportedly value Isak at £150 million, remain keen to hold onto their prize asset and have rebuffed Liverpool's initial bid. Isak, who joined Newcastle in a £60 million move from Real Sociedad in 2022, scored 23 Premier League goals last season to help Newcastle qualify for the Champions League. He has three years left on his Newcastle contract, but did not travel to Asia for the Magpies' ongoing pre-season tour, with the club saying he had a minor thigh injury. On Thursday, Real Sociedad confirmed he was at their Zubieta facility with his own trainers. It was reported on Friday that Newcastle had told Isak he could agree a new deal containing a get-out clause for next year, but he responded by insisting he wants to move now. Liverpool manager Arne Slot has already bolstered his attacking options by signing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike and Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz during the current transfer window. But the Reds are keen to make their forward line even more formidable by adding Isak as they look to win back to back English titles for the first time since the 1980s. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe struck a defiant note earlier this week when he said: 'He is still our player. He's contracted to us. 'We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. 'My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control.' Liverpool have spent over £250 million so far in the summer window, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili joining Wirtz and Ekitike at Anfield. Meanwhile, Premier League side Chelsea loaned teenage defender Mamadou Sarr back to sister club Strasbourg on Friday for the upcoming Ligue 1 season. The French club confirmed the loan move on its website, having sold the highly rated Sarr to Chelsea in June. Strasbourg is owned by the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital that bought Chelsea in 2022. The 19-year-old Sarr is a France under-20 international. He was a regular last season, playing 27 league games as Alsace-based Strasbourg finished in seventh place to seal a place in the Conference League playoffs. He previously played briefly for Lyon. Chelsea won the Conference League last season and will play in the Champions League after finishing in fourth place in the Premier League. Strasbourg was bought by Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, in 2023. Chelsea said Sarr had signed a contract until 2033 but didn't disclose the transfer fee. Strasbourg opens their league campaign at Metz on Aug. 17. Elsewhere, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission, the club announced on Thursday. Agencies