Liverpool sign Diogo Jota for £41m from Wolves as Ki-Jana Hoever moves to Molineux - BBC Sport
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Liverpool sign Diogo Jota for £41m from Wolves as Ki-Jana Hoever moves to Molineux

By Mandeep SangheraBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Liverpoolcomments745

Diogo Jota
Jota will wear the number 20 shirt vacated by Adam Lallana

Liverpool have completed the signing of Portugal forward Diogo Jota from Wolves in a £41m deal that could rise to £45m with add-ons.

The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League champions.

"It's just a really exciting moment for me and my family," said Jota.

The move represents a net outlay of about £30m for Liverpool, with defender Ki-Jana Hoever moving the other way for £9m and a possible £4.5m in add-ons.

Liverpool have also negotiated a 15% sell-on clause in the transfer taking Dutch player Hoever to Molineux.

"When you look at the Premier League, you always see Liverpool as one of the biggest teams in the country, so it's impossible to say no," said Jota.

"I think I am a team player. I play up front and my job is to find a way to score goals and to provide assists and that's what they can expect from me - that I will always do my best.

"I will always try to help the team in the best way possible."

Jota's move follows the Anfield club's £20m capture of Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich on Friday.

They have also signed Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas for about £11.7m this summer.

Jota can play across the forward line and would provide further cover - in addition to Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi - for Liverpool's front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

"He is a player who gives us so many options to use him," said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp. "He's 23 years old, still far away from being kind of a finished article, so much potential.

"He has the speed, he can combine, can defend, can press. It makes it just more unpredictable and gives us real options for different systems."

'Diogo is going to the right place'

Former Atletico Madrid forward Jota joined Wolves on loan in their 2017-18 Championship-winning campaign before making a £12.8m permanent switch in 2018.

He made 131 appearances for the Molineux side, scoring 44 goals, including hat-tricks in last season's Europa League victories against Besiktas and Espanyol.

"We did the deal because it is good for everyone," said Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo. "Diogo was happy here but players like new challenges.

"Diogo is amazing and everybody knows the relationship we built. What Diogo did for us is absolutely fantastic.

"I think Diogo is going to the right place and we wish him all the best, knowing that it will never be forgotten, especially by our fans, all the memorable moments that Diogo provided."

On Hoever, Nuno added: "He's a player that I think really has potential, has talent. And it's up to us to take the best out of him."

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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745 comments

  • Comment posted by User0687567479, at 13:42 19 Sep 2020

    Thiago and Jota will cost us around £9m in transfer fees over the next 12 months. I’m gonna miss Edwards when he’s eventually jailed for robbery.
    😂😂😂

    • Reply posted by david, at 13:58 19 Sep 2020

      david replied:
      You still have to pay the full fees eventually.

      Can't pay, we will take it away.

  • Comment posted by kenilworth wolf, at 14:13 19 Sep 2020

    Really sad to see him go, powerful, fast, intelligent and scores important goals. Liverpool have got a potential world class attacking player at a great price. Wolves have sold a player who slightly levelled out during the second half of the season and maybe needed a new challenge, however as I previously mentioned I wish he’d stayed at Wolves as there’s definitely more to come from him.

    • Reply posted by Fan Of Whoever Plays Man Utd, at 15:21 19 Sep 2020

      Fan Of Whoever Plays Man Utd replied:
      A great deal for both sides. After a slow start Liverpool are finally getting the signings that they need. Looks like Leeds did Liverpool a big favour and showed them that the current squad is not enough.

  • Comment posted by waveydavey, at 16:15 19 Sep 2020

    I’ve only read the first page of messages here and a lot of common sense and decent comment from both Liverpool fans and Wolves fans. More of the same please.

    • Reply posted by monkeyphoenix, at 17:18 19 Sep 2020

      monkeyphoenix replied:
      Agreed. Surprised! But good to see

  • Comment posted by DavetheWave, at 13:54 19 Sep 2020

    Great business for Wolves. A huge profit on their investment and a ready made replacement available in Neto, or Podders. Also a young full back to replace the aging Doc who has gone to Spurs for another huge profit.

    • Reply posted by Dallas Cowboys Liverpool FC, at 15:18 19 Sep 2020

      Dallas Cowboys Liverpool FC replied:
      A win win for both teams. Wolves get a nice profit and an up and coming defender, while Liverpool the young backup FW that they so needed, who can grow and take over if and when one of the front three leaves.

  • Comment posted by Magnumaniac, at 13:44 19 Sep 2020

    Sad to see him leave Wolves - but a good bit of business at a £30m+ profit.

    Just hope he gets the chances he deserves at Anfield.

    • Reply posted by cookiekopite, at 14:59 19 Sep 2020

      cookiekopite replied:
      He will only deserve those chances if he proves it to Klopp in training he's going to have to be incredible to displace any 1 of that front 3 on a regular basis as there have only been a handful of players worldwide as consistent as Mo or Manè whereas Bobby although not prolific is the perfect partner for both

  • Comment posted by LongLiveTheKing, at 14:10 19 Sep 2020

    Good player for Wolves. Jurgen does have the knack of turning good players into great players. Looking forward to seeing him in action.

    • Reply posted by Nozwad, at 14:28 19 Sep 2020

      Nozwad replied:
      Yes I agree with that, but I'm also impressed with what Nuno has done with players development at Wolves

  • Comment posted by D1710804327505, at 16:27 19 Sep 2020

    My memory of Jota for Wolves will always be him skinning Luke Shaw and leaving him on his arris

    • Reply posted by Jez, at 20:03 19 Sep 2020

      Jez replied:
      Nice use of "arris"

  • Comment posted by LionelRhodes, at 14:12 19 Sep 2020

    Daaammmnn. Liverpool eh...came out swinging the last few days! Thiago and now this lad. OK. I'll concede it. Could keep the title now.

    • Reply posted by stewartisolated20, at 14:51 19 Sep 2020

      stewartisolated20 replied:
      Come on Lionel....its the start of a new season....who is your team?

  • Comment posted by brad lopez, at 13:49 19 Sep 2020

    45m Jota or 50m Werner? No brainer

    • Reply posted by NeilAndy109, at 13:52 19 Sep 2020

      NeilAndy109 replied:
      100% correct, puts to bed all the rubbish about Liverpool pulling out of the deal due to finances. They wanted him and he chose Chelsea, deal with it

  • Comment posted by Big Sky Country, at 14:51 19 Sep 2020

    Not a Liverpool fan but you have to admire the quick and quiet way they go about their transfer window business. One day they are liked with a player and the next they have signed them Not weeks and weeks of speculation in the media with protracted on/off negotiations and not simply just signing so called "big name" players, but players that will improve the squad for comparatively sensible prices

    • Reply posted by Takor, at 17:58 19 Sep 2020

      Takor replied:
      They've been linked with Thiago all summer.

  • Comment posted by Scientist Economist Voice of ALL knowledge, at 14:36 19 Sep 2020

    It's great watching all the bitter mancs frothing at the mouth with their calculators, spreadsheets and youtube research trying to convince themselves it's a waste of money

    Pogbeh 90m
    Shaw 30m
    Fred 50m

    Slings coat over shoulder and chuckles.

    • Reply posted by Funky Chunky Fetishist, at 17:43 19 Sep 2020

      Funky Chunky Fetishist replied:
      Devote your life to it...it's working

  • Comment posted by andrew, at 14:16 19 Sep 2020

    Thanks Diogo great player exciting to watch when at his best, hope you do well COYW

  • Comment posted by Wolves, at 13:43 19 Sep 2020

    He doesn't suit wolves style of play any more. He's behind jimenez, traore, podence, neto, silva and Ferreira now. He basically got dropped at the end of last season. A great player but for 40mil, we were always going to let him go. Hopefully we spend that money on a quality right back

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 15:35 19 Sep 2020

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      I bet you would not be saying that if he had just got a big new contract from Wolves.

  • Comment posted by D1708727473486, at 13:44 19 Sep 2020

    A good bit of business for Wolves.

    • Reply posted by D1679126692349, at 14:31 19 Sep 2020

      D1679126692349 replied:
      Who will replace him though?

  • Comment posted by paul hirst, at 14:06 19 Sep 2020

    Jota has scored plenty of goals for Wolves, so he's established as a Premier league striker. With the right service there's no reason why he cant chip in with a few goals for Liverpool. Klopps signing of Thiago is massive though, I'm not knocking Henderson, Keita or Wynaldum but when you compare their stats to Alcantara, it shows what a snip they got him for at 20m, for a World class midfielder.

    • Reply posted by paul09, at 16:43 19 Sep 2020

      paul09 replied:
      You can compare. Hendo s ststs compare well. And there is far more to the game than stats

  • Comment posted by Jez, at 15:58 19 Sep 2020

    Klopp has improved every player he has worked with at Liverpool, Jota is already a really good player so has potential to become very, very good, plus he is 23 with 2 years of EPL experience and 3 in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, I wish Hoever all the best with his career, and LFC get a sell-on clause. Good deals all round.

    • Reply posted by Changing Times, at 18:13 19 Sep 2020

      Changing Times replied:
      Did he improve Karius at all?
      Asking for a friend.

  • Comment posted by spirit, at 14:53 19 Sep 2020

    This is great business for Wolves AND Liverpool!

  • Comment posted by SSC, at 14:19 19 Sep 2020

    Brilliant on his day but inconsistent, if Klopp can sort that out he will be a great buy.

    Great deal for Wolves too, I am sure we will reinvest the money well. In Nuno we trust.

  • Comment posted by james clare, at 14:18 19 Sep 2020

    Portugal international,he is a very good player,blew hot and cold for wolves,but in a team as strong as Liverpool he will do well,wolves will reinvest the money on a few quality players,everyone happy

  • Comment posted by D1679059907678, at 16:05 19 Sep 2020

    Liverpool have signed 2 fantastic players in Jota and Thiago. They certainly know how to do business in the market. If they bring anything to the team Liverpool will be hard to stop this year. Klopp and Liverpool must be a big draw for players.

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