With those six words, Liverpool FC officially unveiled one of the most emotional tributes in the club’s storied history: a towering bronze statue of Diogo Jota at Anfield and the launch of the Diogo Jota Academy — a state-of-the-art youth development centre named in honour of the Portuguese striker whose life was tragically cut short at just 28.

The announcement came this morning in a tearful ceremony outside the Kop, attended by thousands of fans, current and former players, club staff, and Jota’s family. Jürgen Klopp, visibly moved, spoke first: “Diogo wasn’t just a player. He was one of us — heart, soul, fire. This statue and this academy will make sure every kid who walks through these doors knows what it means to fight like Diogo.”

The statue, sculpted by renowned artist Andy Edwards, stands at 3.5 metres tall and captures Jota in mid-celebration — arms outstretched, eyes fixed on the Kop after his iconic goal against Manchester United in 2023. But the most poignant detail is hidden near the base: a small, discreet inscription that was only revealed when the protective covering was lifted. Engraved in Portuguese and English are Jota’s final known words to the fans, written in a private note to the club days before his death in a car accident in July 2025:

“Obrigado por me deixarem sonhar. Vocês são a minha família para sempre.” (Thank you for letting me dream. You are my family forever.)