Arne Slot confirms Liverpool owners have paid Diogo Jota’s family his full contract

Arne Slot has revealed that Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have paid Diogo Jota’s full contract to his family following the tragic death of the Portuguese star in early July.

The forward lost his life in a car accident alongside his brother, Andre Silva, while travelling through Spain to catch a ferry to the United Kingdom for pre-season preparations.

Jota still had two years left on his Liverpool contract when he passed away, with reports in the Portuguese media over the summer suggesting that the club would honour his full deal.

Slot has now confirmed this generous gesture, revealing that FSG paid out the entire contract to help the player’s family.

“Unfortunately, we had to bring in one more player than we had planned,” he told Ally McCoist in an interview with TNT Sports.

“So our spending was higher than expected. The city’s grief… that’s what makes working at this club special for me. To work at a club where there is success and parades—of course, the parade is bigger than anywhere else in the world. But the way the fans behaved after that tragedy… so many flowers, so many memorials. I’m almost moved just thinking about it. What our fans have done is incredible.

The players too, the way they behaved during and around the funeral. Then we had to train again. And there are moments when I think: ‘What must his wife and children be feeling now?’
Because it sounds so difficult… our lives go on. People expect me to prepare them all the time. And sometimes it feels difficult, knowing how hard it is for the family and his parents. The stage they are in now, and which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

I said how proud I felt of the fans’ response, but also the owners… Owners are usually criticised, just like managers, but the way they behaved in this situation, paying his wife and children all the money from his contract [is commendable]. Maybe some people think it’s normal, but in football it isn’t.”

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner also spoke about how the club has supported Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, during an interview on The Overlap US this month.

“He was an extraordinary person,” he said. “He was loved, not because he was the leading goalscorer, but because he was genuinely good. He was incredibly curious. We often talked about video games. When he celebrated a goal, he was referring to them. He had an esports team and, by reputation, was one of the best FIFA players in the Premier League. I mention this because he had a curiosity that drew people to him. He was very popular with his teammates and in the dressing room.

One thing I admired about him was that even when he suffered some serious injuries last year, he didn’t complain, but focused on how he could help the club and knew he could make an impact even if he wasn’t starting. And he did, because he scored some crucial goals. He accepted his role with dignity.
It is always a tragedy when someone dies prematurely. But his death touched everyone because he was so loved.

It was immediately important for us to contact his wife and make sure she understood that we are like a family. It’s a cliché, but we see ourselves as a family and wanted to make sure that she and her children would be financially secure. It’s very important for us to show that no matter what happens, we care for the footballer, but even more so for the person.”

Jota’s devastating loss caused a huge wave of grief and sorrow in the world of football, with Liverpool honouring the forward with many moving tributes after his tragic passing.

The Merseyside club has permanently retired the number 20 shirt as a lasting tribute.

A sculpture at “Anfield”, made from items recycled from fans’ tributes, has also been commissioned.

Furthermore, a “Forever 20” emblem will be sewn onto the players’ shirts and warm-up tops, while a new grassroots football programme will be launched in Jota’s name.

Liverpool also honoured Jota and Silva during pre-season preparations with moving moments before every match, including floral tributes and minutes of silence.

Fans continue to remember the Portuguese player by singing his famous song in the 20th minute of every match.