Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad have completed a £25m deal for Jota from Celtic; Portuguese winger leaves Scottish Premiership champions after two seasons at the club; the 24-year-old scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists last season as the Hoops won the domestic treble
Wednesday 5 July 2023 09:26, UK
Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad have signed Portuguese winger Jota from Celtic for £25m.
The 24-year-old departs the Scottish Premiership champions after two years at the club after initially joining on loan from Benfica in 2021 before being signed permanently on a five-year deal last summer.
Benfica are due 30 per cent of the £25m fee for Jota, meaning the Portuguese side are set to receive £7.5m from his sale to the reigning Saudi Arabian champions, who are managed by former Wolves and Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Jota, who has signed a three-year deal at Al Ittihad, scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists last season as Celtic clinched a domestic treble.
Jota will play alongside the likes of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante at Al Ittihad after the French pair joined this summer following the club's PIF takeover.
A short Celtic statement read: "After two seasons with the club, one on loan from Benfica and one on a full contract, Portuguese winger, Jota has left Celtic to join Saudi Arabian club, Al Ittihad.
"In his time in the Hoops, Jota won two league titles as well as picking up winner's medals in both the Scottish and League Cups.
"Everyone at Celtic Football Club wishes Jota success in his future career."
Jota's exit comes just three days after Celtic announced the signing of winger Marco Tilio from Melbourne City.
The 21-year-old joined Celtic on a five-year deal to become the second signing of Brendan Rodgers' second spell at the club after the arrival of midfielder Odin Thiago Holm from Valerenga.
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