Liverpool to Pay Late Striker Diogo Jota’s Contract in Full to His Family

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that the club will honor the late Diogo Jota’s contract by paying the remainder in full to his family.

Jota tragically lost his life in a car accident on July 3, alongside his brother Andre Silva, in Northern Spain. The 28-year-old is survived by his wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three young children.

At the time of his passing, Jota was earning £140,000 per week under a contract with two years left, worth an estimated £14 million in total.

Slot, speaking to TNT Sports, praised the gesture from Liverpool’s ownership:

“I said how proud I felt about how the fans reacted but ownership. Owners are mainly criticised, like managers, but the way they’ve handled this situation, by paying his wife and his children all the money from the contract [is commendable]. Maybe people think it’s normal, but it is not in football.”

Opinion:

In a sport often dominated by headlines about transfers, contracts, and money-driven disputes, Liverpool’s decision to pay Jota’s family the remainder of his contract is a reminder of football’s human side.

Too often, clubs are seen as ruthless businesses that move on quickly after tragedy. But this act shows Liverpool are not just a club—they are a family. It highlights values of compassion, loyalty, and respect, principles that the late Jota himself embodied with his work ethic and humility on the pitch.

Some may argue that with the club’s financial muscle, such a gesture should be expected. But as Slot rightly pointed out, it is not normal in football. In fact, in many cases, contractual obligations end with a player’s death. That Liverpool chose to go beyond the legal bare minimum is a statement of care that transcends the game.

For Jota’s wife and children, this ensures financial security during an unimaginably painful time. For fans, it reinforces the belief that their club stands by its own, in life and beyond. And for football as a whole, it sets a precedent—reminding us that players are not just assets but human beings with families, dreams, and legacies.

Liverpool have not only honored Jota’s memory but also set an example of how football clubs can lead with heart as well as ambition.