Liverpool FC Pays Tribute to Diogo Jota With Memorial Patch in Hong Kong Friendly

Defending English Premier League champions are paying tribute to forward Diogo Jota — who died in a car crash in Spain in early July — with a special jersey patch on their preseason tour of Asia.

Liverpool began the tour with a friendly against Italian side AC Milan at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on Saturday, July 26. For the match, they wore a patch on the centre chest of their jerseys with “DIOGO J.” — which is how the player’s name appeared on the back of his jersey — above a large number 20 inside a circle. The period after the J is a heart, as is the negative space in the zero.

Both teams also wore black armbands in memory of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash in Zamora, northwestern Spain, early in the morning of Thursday, July 3. Jota was only 28 years old. Spain’s Guardia Civil said that the crash was caused by a “burst tire while overtaking,” with the vehicle Jota and Silva were in leaving the road and catching fire.

Prior to the match, Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath in the brothers’ memory, and Liverpool supporters inside Kai Tak Stadium raised cards to spell out “DJ 20.” Fans of both teams also stood and applauded in the 20th minute of the game.

Liverpool will once again wear the memorial patch in Tokyo on Wednesday, July 30, when they take on Yokohama F. Marinos in another preseason friendly.

For the Tokyo match, Liverpool will wear a special name and number font developed in collaboration with the club’s official publication partner, Kodansha, and renowned Japanese calligrapher Riu Akizuki.

In Hong Kong, Liverpool wore special red and gold numbers on the backs of their jerseys inspired by local culture and artistry.

Liverpool are still wearing their Nike kits from the 2024-25 season on this preseason tour as their new contract with adidas doesn’t take effect until August 1. When the new kits launch, they will include a “Forever 20” emblem, as will stadium jackets. The emblem will remain in place for the entire 2025-26 season.

Liverpool FC announced earlier this month that the club would retire the number 20 in Jota’s memory across all levels of the club. That decision was made after consultation with Jota’s wife and family.

Since Jota’s passing, fans have left flowers, jerseys and other items outside Liverpool’s stadium, Anfield, in tribute. The club announced over the weekend that those items “have been gradually removed over the course of the last week and carefully separated and safely stored.” Flowers will be composted and used in gardens at the stadium and the club’s training facilities. Other items will be recycled and used to create a permanent memorial sculpture at Anfield.

Supporters will still be able to have Jota’s name and number printed on the back of their shirts through Liverpool team stores and their official online store. Profits from printing will go to the LFC Foundation, which has committed to establishing a grassroots soccer program in Jota’s name.