Jota transfer news: Celtic re-sign Rennes winger in £8m deal just 18 months after Saudi Arabia’s £25m exit | Football news
Jota has returned to Celtic in an £8m deal – just 18 months after leaving the Scottish champions for £25m.
The Portuguese winger joins from Rennes and has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with Parkhead, subject to international clearance, which will see him stay at the club until June 2030.
In 2023 Jota was traded by Celtic for a big money move to Saudi Al Ittihad but was left out of the club’s Pro League squad and found himself on the fringes of the starting 11 for the Asian Champions League matches.
He moved to Rennes last summer but the appointment of new manager Jorge Sampaoli has left him looking for another move – and he has his wish after returning to Celtic.
Jota initially moved to Parkhead on loan from Benfica in 2021, before signing a permanent five-year deal the following season.
The former Benfica player scored 28 goals and provided 26 assists in 83 appearances, plus won five major honors with the Parkhead club.
‘I just feel good’
Iota for the media for the first time since returning to the club:
“Once I really had time to think about it and realize that this is the best step for my career at this point, I felt like, ‘OK, here we go again,’ and it just felt good.
“Obviously it’s been a year and a half with some difficulties, mainly inside the field where I haven’t had many opportunities to play and obviously physically it’s not my best moment, but it will come quickly with minutes, minutes, training and I can’t wait for it.
“I’m just getting to know some of the lads, I think there’s only nine players left from last time, but there’s definitely a lot of talent, there’s room for improvement and under Brendan’s orders, I think there’s a good environment to develop and win things.
“I learned a lot of things, I got to know myself in different ways that I didn’t know and I think it’s all positive at the end of the day because I’m a lot more mature. I have a different vision of what I want and what I want to achieve.
“I’m very self-aware, so I end up getting that out of it.”
Rodgers: Jota can boost Celtic heritage
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looking forward to finally working with the winger:
“Absolutely an incredible addition to our squad, given what he’s done here before and his quality.
“There was one player who, when I first came back, I was really, really looking forward to working with. I saw him play for Celtic, of course, and I saw his impact in terms of creating goals, scoring goals.
“Practically before I arrived, it was very clear that he was gone. That was disappointing.
“I spoke to him at length. It’s always a challenge, and I know from first-hand experience, that when you create a legacy, a lot of people will tell you to go back and maybe have it spoiled in any way.
“My feeling and advice to him was, come back and increase that legacy to be even bigger.
“If you are not happy in your job where you are or how you are doing, know that this is the place where you will improve and develop.
“He’s also at a different point in his life now, even though he’s only been away for a few years. I think he’ll come back with the right motive. He’s got undoubted quality.”
