Liverpool has retired the number 20 jersey across all levels of the club in honor of Diogo Jota after the Portugal striker's tragic passing in a car crash just over a week ago in northern Spain.
Jota died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, less than two weeks after marrying his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso. The pair have three young children.
In news that was confirmed at 8.20pm UK time — 20.20 — the Reds said that "Jota will forever be Liverpool Football Club’s number 20". The decision was taken after a consultation with Jota's wife, Rute, and the player's family.
No more players will wear the number 20 on their back. That is the case not only at first-team level but also in the academy and for the women's team.
Earlier today, Liverpool players and coaching staff joined Jota's family at Anfield, where tributes have been laid out on the grass near the Main Stand. They paid their respects and saw the shirts, scarves and wreaths that have been left over the course of the last seven days.
"As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters — and we felt exactly the same way," FSG CEO of Football Michael Edwards told the official club website.
Cody Gakpo lays a tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo lays a tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Anfield. (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.
"I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honor has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.
"By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal — and therefore never to be forgotten. Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore — with honour, distinction and affection — the number 20.
"As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20."
Liverpool will pay tribute to Diogo Jota in its first pre-season game against Preston
Liverpool will pay tribute to Diogo Jota in its first pre-season game against Preston (Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool's players began to return for pre-season training this week. The Reds will play their first friendly on Sunday against Preston North End. Before that game, tributes to Jota and Silva will be made at Deepdale.
Club anthem You'll Never Walk Alone will be sung before kick-off. Preston will lay a wreath alongside the away fans before a minute's silence is observed in remembrance. Both sets of players will wear black armbands.
There is also a commemorative edition of the matchday programme that features written tributes to Jota and Silva. That will be distributed for free to those who are in attendance and have a match ticket.
Earlier in the week, coaching staff and players at Wolves also paid their respects to former player Jota. Head coach Vitor Pereira, accompanied by his team, paused to remember him outside their home stadium, Molineux, on Thursday.