The rumored news of Liverpool terminating Diogo Jota’s contract — what’s the truth?
The sudden passing of Diogo Jota has not only left the football world in shock but has also sparked an unprecedented wave of grief among Liverpool fans.
As Jota’s bereaved family holds his funeral, social media has been abuzz with rumors claiming that Liverpool terminated his contract. According to these claims, the move was made to activate a compensation clause, under which Liverpool would pay the full wages for the remaining two years of his contract (which ran until summer 2027), with his wife and children as beneficiaries. However, this information remains unverified, and neither Liverpool nor the British or Portuguese media have made any mention of it.
Instead, Record (Portugal) reported that the Merseyside club took a profoundly meaningful action — choosing to honor the remaining two years of Jota’s contract and paying his full remaining salary to his family, even though the contract technically remains in force until 2027.
Diogo Jota’s death has left Liverpool fans deeply heartbroken.
According to Record (Portugal), Jota earned about €7 million per year at Liverpool. Even though he is no longer alive, Jota will continue to “retain his rights” as a member of the squad he so selflessly contributed to. This noble gesture is seen as the club’s final tribute to their number 20 — who played a key role in winning the 2024/25 Premier League title.
It didn’t stop there. Liverpool sent representatives from the coaching staff, players, and board members to Gondomar — Jota’s hometown in Portugal — to attend his funeral and express their condolences to his family. This heartfelt image reflects the special bond Jota forged over his five years at Anfield.
Liverpool players traveled to Portugal to attend Jota’s funeral (Source: CNN)
Darwin Núñez was the first Liverpool player to arrive at Diogo Jota’s funeral (Source: Getty)
Earlier, in the early hours of July 3 (local time), Diogo Jota and his younger brother André were involved in a car accident while driving a lime green Lamborghini Huracán. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Images from the site showed the car’s front completely crushed and pushed into the roadside — a testament to the severity of the crash. Police are still investigating the cause, but there are no signs so far of alcohol or substance involvement.
Just 11 days before his passing, Jota had married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso. Wedding photos were still circulating joyfully on social media when the tragic news struck, stunning the football world. Jota’s wife is now his legal representative and will receive the remaining salary payments from Liverpool under the club’s humanitarian agreement.
At Anfield, thousands of fans laid flowers, shirts, and scarves to commemorate Jota. His number 20 shirt has become a symbol, and on social media, fans are calling on the club to retire the jersey permanently as a tribute to their fallen hero. In its latest statement, Liverpool expressed its desire to “immortalize” the number 20 shirt in recognition of Jota’s vital contributions during the historic season.
Even former captain Jordan Henderson could not hold back his emotions. The ex-skipper visited Jota’s memorial outside Anfield, bowed his head silently, then broke down in tears before the photo of his former teammate.
Diogo Jota was not only a talented footballer but also a symbol of fighting spirit, dedication, and loyalty. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled — in the hearts of Liverpool supporters, in the soul of the Portuguese nation, and in the global football community.
