Liverpool Make It Official: Diogo Jota Signs Permanent Deal as Club Honors Andre Silva
Liverpool are making plans to create a lasting tribute to honor Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva through a memorial statue at Anfield and a special badge on the upcoming season's jerseys.
The football community worldwide was shocked by the heartbreaking deaths of Jota and Silva in a devastating vehicle crash on July 3. Club allegiances were set aside as everyone came together to celebrate an extraordinary individual whose life was tragically cut short at only 28 years of age.
Supporters gathered at Anfield to pay their respects to Jota, covering the vicinity of Liverpool's stadium with messages, displays, team colors, merchandise and floral arrangements. The Premier League title holders are now working to transform these tributes into a lasting monument.
"The countless physical memorials placed outside Anfield have been systematically collected during the past week and carefully categorized and securely preserved," Liverpool announced in an official statement.
"Flower arrangements will be processed into compost for use in garden areas throughout all club facilities, including Anfield, the AXA Training Centre and AXA Melwood Training Centre. The other memorial items will be processed by a specialized firm and incorporated into creating a permanent commemorative statue that will serve as a dedicated remembrance site at Anfield."
Liverpool has already withdrawn Jota's No. 20 jersey from use across the men's, women's and youth squads. Supporters may still request 'Diogo J. 20' customization on their 2025–26 jerseys with all revenue from these purchases being donated to the club's charity organization.
No matter what name appears on the jersey, every Liverpool uniform for the next season will feature a memorial to Jota through a 'Forever 20' symbol.
An organized supporter display will be revealed during Liverpool's opening home Premier League match against Bournemouth accompanied by a moment of silence. The organization is believed to be coordinating with the Football Association about an appropriate tribute for the Community Shield match against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Aug. 10.