Flowers and messages of tribute have been laid at Anfield to the Portuguese forward
Tributes at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, in memory of Diogo Jota who has died at the age of 28
Tributes at Anfield in memory of Diogo Jota who has died at the age of 28
(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Flowers and messages of tribute to Diogo Jota have been laid at Anfield after the Liverpool FC player died in a car accident. The 28-year-old is said to have been travelling with his brother, Andre Silva, in the Zamora region of Sanabria, Spain when the incident occurred.
It is understood the vehicle suffered a tyre blowout when heading towards Benavente, with Zamora News reporting that emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 1am on Thursday morning. According to the Zamora provincial council, firefighters attended the scene on the A52, known as the Palacios de Sanabria, after the vehicle caught fire.
Liverpool FC released an official statement this morning following Jota's death. The statement read: "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
"The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.
"We will continue to provide them with our full support."
Tributes at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, in memory of Diogo Jota who has died at the age of 28
Tributes at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, in memory of Diogo Jota who has died at the age of 28
Flowers and messages of tribute to Jota have been laid around Anfield today. One message quoted the club's chant for the forward, saying: "Ooooh he wears the number 20. RIP Diogo YNWA. Forever Red."
Another said: "Thanks for everything Diogo, rest easy mate." A further tribute added: "In loving memory. The lad from Portugal."
Portuguese forward Jota signed for Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020. He played 182 times for the Reds, scoring 65 times.
Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28
Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
He won the Premier League last season, as well as winning the FA Cup and League Cup while at Anfield. Jota was capped 49 times by his country, scoring 14 goals.
BBC News has spoken to the Guardia Civil this morning, who confirmed the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.
The comments from the police, reported by the BBC, said: "The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.
"It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora.
"The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed."