Arne Slot praises FSG’s ‘extraordinary’ gesture as club honours remaining two years of Portuguese forward’s deal following fatal car crash in Spain
Liverpool have paid the full £14.5million remaining on Diogo Jota’s contract to his widow and children, manager Arne Slot has confirmed, describing the gesture as extraordinary in modern football. The Portuguese forward tragically died alongside his brother André Silva in a car accident in Spain on July 3, leaving behind wife Rute Cardoso and their three young children.
Jota, who was earning approximately £140,000 per week, had two years remaining on the deal that was due to expire in 2027. The 28-year-old’s death came just 11 days after his wedding to childhood sweetheart Cardoso, sending shockwaves through the football world.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Slot praised Fenway Sports Group’s handling of the tragedy: “Maybe people think it’s normal, but it is not in football. 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.”
Fatal Accident in Spain
The accident occurred in the early hours of July 3 on the A-52 road in Zamora, northwestern Spain. Spanish authorities confirmed the crash was caused by a burst tyre whilst overtaking, with the vehicle leaving the road and catching fire. Spanish media reported the car was a Lamborghini, though it remains unknown which brother was driving.
Jota had been returning to Liverpool for pre-season training via ferry from Santander, having been medically advised not to fly following minor lung surgery in Porto. The forward had just helped Liverpool secure the Premier League title, scoring six goals and providing four assists in 26 appearances during the 2024-25 season.
The tragedy struck particularly hard as Jota had married Rute Cardoso on June 22, just days before his death. The couple, who had been together since their school days, had three children together.
Club’s Response
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner revealed the club immediately reached out to support Jota’s widow. “It was immediately important to us that we reach out to his widow and to make sure that she understood that we are a family,” Werner said on The Overlap US podcast.
“We wanted to make sure she was well taken care of financially, and her children. He was beloved, not because he was the leading goal scorer, he was beloved because he was genuinely kind.”
The decision to pay out the contract in full was made swiftly by FSG, ensuring financial stability for Cardoso and the children during their unimaginable period of grief. Portuguese newspaper Record first reported the gesture, which amounts to approximately £14.5million over the two remaining years.
Transfer Spending Impact
Slot revealed that Jota’s death had forced Liverpool to adjust their transfer plans, contributing to what became a £426million spending spree. The club signed strikers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak for a combined £199million to bolster their attacking options.
“Unfortunately, we had to bring one player more in than what was the plan,” Slot explained. “That’s why our spending was higher than intended.”
The Dutch manager became emotional discussing the city’s response to the tragedy: “The grief of the city, that is what makes it for me so special to work at this club. To work at a club where there is success and there is a parade, of course this parade is bigger than any parade everywhere around the world.”
Tributes and Legacy
Liverpool retired Jota’s number 20 shirt across all levels of the club, including the women’s team and academy, following consultation with his family. The decision marked the first time in the club’s history that a shirt number has been permanently retired.
“The fact that in the long and storied history of our club this honour has never previously been bestowed shows the significance of Diogo to Liverpool Football Club,” said club officials Billy Hogan, John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon in a joint statement.
Thousands of fans left tributes at Anfield, with the memorial growing so large that the club commissioned a sculpture crafted from recycled items left by supporters. Liverpool players including Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Joe Gomez attended the funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, carrying wreaths bearing Jota’s number 20.
Chelsea’s Contribution
In another show of football solidarity, Chelsea players donated a significant portion of their £11.4million Club World Cup bonus to Jota’s family. The gesture came after Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, a Portugal teammate of Jota’s, paid an emotional tribute before their Club World Cup match, holding up a shirt bearing both brothers’ names during a minute’s silence.
Lasting Impact
Slot reflected on the profound effect of the tragedy on everyone at the club: “But the way they conducted, the fans themselves, after that tragedy, how many flowers there were, all the memorials. I can almost get emotional thinking about it. It’s unbelievable what our fans have done.”
“Our players as well, the way they have conducted themselves in and around the funeral. Then we have to train again. There are moments where I feel, ‘What must his wife and his children feel now?'”
Jota had scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool after joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for £41million. He won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during his five years at Anfield, earning 49 caps for Portugal and winning the Nations League twice.
The forward was known not just for his on-field contributions but for his kindness off the pitch. He was an avid gamer, ranked world number one in FIFA 21, and regularly engaged with fans through streaming and community events.
Werner concluded: “He was an extraordinary person. He was beloved because he was genuinely kind. I found him incredibly curious. He had a certain breadth of curiosity that drew people to him. He was extremely popular among his teammates, he was extremely popular in the dressing room.”
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