Liverpool FC issue statement as huge sum raised in honour of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

Supporters have ensured the brothers’ legacy will live on after their tragic death

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A temporary area of reflection remains at the stadium so visitors can continue to pay their respects to Andre Silva and Diogo Jota(Image: PA)

Liverpool FC has announced fans have raised more than £225,000 to help fund a grassroots football programme in honour of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. The late brothers tragically died in July in a car accident and they were laid to a rest in a service in their home city of Gondomar in Portugal. Jota’s legacy at Liverpool was immortalised when the club retired his number 20 shirt and fans have repeatedly sung his chant in the 20th minute of each game this season.

Supporters have also continued to get Jota’s name printed on the back of their shirts or by purchasing commemorative T-shirts from club stores. LFC has today issued a statement to confirmed all the profits have gone to the club’s official charity, LFC foundation, which is committed to creating a grassroots football programme in Jota’s name.

It said: “So far, a total of £226,995 has been raised, which will go directly to establishing and maintaining the community programme, with further details to be shared in due course.

“Liverpool FC will create other permanent tributes, with the thousands of floral tributes left at Anfield to be composted and used in flower beds across all club sites, including Anfield, the AXA Training Centre and AXA Melwood Training Centre.

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“The remaining artefacts will be recycled by a specialist company and used to help create a permanent memorial sculpture that will become a future focal point of remembrance at Anfield.

“A temporary area of reflection remains at the stadium so that visitors can continue to pay their respects.”

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The ECHO visited Gondomar in the aftermath of the brothers’ death and heard first-hand just why the two brothers were so adored by their community.

The academy at Gondomar Sporte Club was renamed in honour of Jota in 2022 as the forward played for the team until he was 17 years old before he joined Paços de Ferreira.

To commemorate his time at the club, a mural was created featuring an image of Jota as a child in the Gondomar kit and then later in his career when he represented the Portugal national side.

A quote on the centre of the mural reads : “Nao e importante de onde vimos mas sim para onde vamos.” A translation of this reads: “It’s not important where we come from but where we’re going.”

Members of the community told the ECHO about the meaning behind the quote as Jota’s journey to become a Premier League star was one of the reasons he symbolised so much to the people of Gondomar.

Most stars who end up representing the Portugal national side are snatched up during their early years by the big clubs such as Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Porto. However, Jota stayed with his local team in Gondomar until he was 17 years old and only enjoyed a year long loan spell at Porto, before he made the move to England

A Gondomar native named Goncalo Ferreira said this unique journey is why he is such an inspirational figure to the people in the small city located 7km east of Porto. He said: “It’s not usual in football.

“When kids are 12/13, they go to the biggest clubs like Porto, Sporting and Benfica. He didn’t go that way. He marked his career in football in a special way because he didn’t follow everyone.

“He followed his convictions.” Rita Silva also echoed the meaning of the quotes as she explained how Jota was an inspiration to his community.

The 17-year-old said: “He was the boy who got out. This is a small city and all of us dream to win in life and go to be the best in every work field we can. He got out – he was the one who got out and he was an example for everyone.

“He was a kid like us. He went to our school. He played in our fields and he won in life.” Jota’s legacy rising from his humble roots to become a Premier League star is something the community will always treasure.

Locals also value how he continued to represent his community throughout his journey to the top as Celia Almeida said: “He was always the boy from Gondomar.”

The ECHO spoke to Jota and Silva’s childhood friend, Cosme Oliveira, who explained how what they symbolised will continue to inspire the next generation, as Jota’s quote on the walls on the Estádio de São Miguel will always remain true.

The 30-year-old said: “They never lost their roots here. They never forgot this little town and what we represent. The good memories that we have with them here will always live.”