On August 16, 2025, Manchester City’s new signing Rayan Cherki paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Diogo Jota following the team’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League opener at Molineux Stadium. The 21-year-old French midfielder, who scored on his debut, laid a No. 18 strip on the pitch in memory of Jota, a beloved former Wolves star who tragically died alongside his brother André Silva in a car crash on July 3, 2025. The poignant gesture, reported by Alamy, moved fans and sparked emotional reactions on X, with posts like, “Cherki’s class act for Jota!” trending.

Jota, who played 131 times for Wolves between 2017 and 2020, scoring 44 goals, was honored with a pre-match minute’s applause and a tifo display featuring his favorite song, Fields of Gold by Sting, as noted by mancity.com. Cherki, introduced as a substitute in the 73rd minute, scored a stunning long-range goal just eight minutes later, sealing City’s rout. Post-match, he dedicated his strike to Jota, saying, “This was for him, a hero to this club,” per NBC Sports. The moment resonated deeply, with Wolves and City fans uniting in respect.

The match, a showcase of City’s dominance with Erling Haaland’s brace and Tijjani Reijnders’ debut goal, took on added emotional weight due to Jota’s legacy. Cherki’s tribute, captured in a viral image shared by @futbolhub7 on X, showed him kneeling beside the No. 18 strip, a nod to Jota’s iconic shirt number. “It was a fitting tribute to a much-loved footballer,” The Sun reported, noting the somber atmosphere at Molineux. Fans on X praised Cherki’s sensitivity, with @djwskyblu tweeting, “Cherki’s respect for Jota shows true character.”

Cherki, who joined City from Lyon for £25 million and wears the coveted No. 10 jersey, per republicworld.com, has quickly won over fans. His gesture, echoing the football community’s grief, including tributes from Manchester City players like Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva, per cityxtra.co.uk, underscored Jota’s impact. The match report by onefootball.com highlighted the collective moment of remembrance, with both teams’ players joining the tribute.

As City celebrated their victory, Cherki’s act of respect for Jota stood out, proving football’s power to unite in mourning. The tribute, a small but profound gesture, ensures Jota’s memory endures, leaving fans hopeful for Cherki’s future contributions both on and off the pitch.