As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Premier League champions Liverpool have completed the signing of Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The player is set to pen a five-year contract with the Reds.
The 23-year-old Jota came through the youth ranks at Portuguese outfit Gondomar, before joining Pacos Ferreira. In 2016, he signed for La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, but was immediately loaned out to FC Porto, where he impressed. The following summer, he joined Wolves, who were in the Championship at the time, initially on loan, before making the transfer permanent in 2018.
Since joining the Black County outfit, the Portuguese forward has accumulated 131 appearances, scoring 44 goals and setting up 19 more. A versatile attacker, Jota has been used mostly on the left flank, but has also often operated as part of a two-pronged attack alongside Raul Jimenez.
Liverpool had been heavily linked with a move for Jota’s teammate Adama Traore all summer. Understandably so, considering that the reigning English champions are lacking quality backup for their first-choice frontline of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
However, instead of Traore, the club seem to have moved in on Jota, with the report claiming that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been a long-term admirer of the Portuguese. And while it is yet to be announced officially, the Echo is claiming that the transfer is a done deal.
As per the report, Liverpool will be shelling out £41 million for the signing of the forward, with another £4 million in add-ons. Jota is expected to put pen to a five-year contract with the Premier League champions. He is set to become the Reds’ fourth most expensive player behind Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Naby Keita.
It is further claimed that Liverpool will have to pay around just 10 per cent of the guaranteed transfer fee across the next twelve months.
Jota will become Liverpool’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Kostas Tsimikas and Thiago Alcantara, who joined the club only on Friday. After a rather subdued start to the transfer window, Liverpool have made a huge statement with two brilliant signings on a single day.
Jota’s signing is not the only deal that Liverpool have struck with Wolves on Friday. The Reds have also agreed to the sale of defensive prospect Ki-Jana Hoever in a deal worth an inital £9 million with a further £4.5m in add-ons.