🚨 BREAKING: Wolves to Retire #29 Shirt in Honour of Diogo Jota, After Club Announces Memoriam Training Ground Statue
WOLVERHAMPTON, UK – July 3, 2025 – In a profound gesture of respect and sorrow, Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club has today announced plans to retire the number 29 shirt in honour of former player Diogo Jota, following the devastating news of his tragic passing. The club also confirmed that a memoriam training ground statue will be commissioned to permanently remember the Portuguese forward.
The football world was plunged into mourning earlier today with the news that Jota, along with his brother André Silva, died in a horrific car accident in Spain. The 28-year-old, who made a significant impact during his three seasons at Molineux before his move to Liverpool in 2020, was adored by the Wolves faithful.
Sources close to the club indicate that the decision to retire Jota’s shirt number, a rare honour in football, was made swiftly and unanimously by the club’s hierarchy. It reflects the immense admiration and gratitude felt for Jota’s contributions, particularly his pivotal role in Wolves’ triumphant 2017/18 Championship-winning campaign and subsequent strong performances in the Premier League.
“Diogo was more than just a player to us; he was a vital part of a golden era for this club,” a club spokesperson stated, visibly emotional. “His passion, skill, and infectious smile endeared him to everyone at Wolves and to our fans worldwide. Retiring his number 29 shirt is a small token of our unending respect for him, ensuring that no one else will ever wear it as a mark of the special place he holds in our history.”
Further details emerged regarding the proposed statue at the club’s Compton Park training ground. While plans are still in their infancy, it is understood the statue will serve as a permanent reminder of Jota’s legacy and inspiration for future generations of Wolves players.
Jota’s time at Wolves saw him make over 130 appearances, scoring crucial goals and providing countless moments of brilliance that helped establish the club as a formidable Premier League side. His departure to Liverpool, while a painful loss for Wolves fans, was understood as a step up in his career, and he continued to be held in high regard by the Molineux faithful.
The news comes as tributes pour in from across the globe, with Liverpool FC also issuing a heartfelt statement and fans calling for his current number 20 shirt to be retired at Anfield. The football community stands united in grief, remembering a talented player and, by all accounts, a remarkable individual.
Arrangements for a public commemoration at Molineux are expected to be announced in the coming days, as the Wolves community prepares to say a final, fitting farewell to one of their own.