Jota has sealed a sensational return to Celtic after completing a £9million switch from Rennes.
Celtic fans have been on tenterhooks after spotting the Portuguese superstar earlier on Monday and it’s been an open secret that he was set to return. Talisman forward Kyogo is set to go the other way in a separate deal – a move delayed by the Hoops’ own interest in Jota. But the latter part of that arrangement has now been sealed with Jota set to pull on the green and white once again.
The winger only left the Parkhead giants to join Al-Ittihad in a £25million deal in the summer of 2023 shortly after Brendan Rodgers‘ second tenure with the champions got underway, but finds himself back in Glasgow after a challenging 18 months. He was at Celtic Park on Saturday putting the finishing touches to his blockbuster return.
The 25-year-old struggled to make an impact in the Saudi Pro League and returned to Europe last summer to join Rennes. However, Jota has fared little better in France, and after falling out of favour under new manager Jorge Sampaoli, has seen a route back to Celtic open up. The former Portugal youth international lit up Parkhead with 28 goals and 26 assists in 83 appearances in all competitions in his first spell with the club and can’t wait to do it all over again.
He said: “It’s very nostalgic for me because it was such an amazing feeling and all the moments that I felt through my two seasons here, and I’m just delighted to be back. I’m really excited and I just can’t wait to start.
“The best thing in Glasgow, besides Celtic obviously, is the people and I feel like I need a place with soul, where I feel at home. This is definitely something I was looking for, and I think there is no better match than Celtic.
“I’m so excited. The last year-and-a-half has had its ups and downs, but that’s life and that’s how football is. Now I just can’t wait to work hard, to get along with the lads again and just to flow.”
On the role Rodgers played to land him, Jota told the Celtic website: “The manager was crucial in me coming here because he told me what he wanted from day one. We had really good discussions and we were very honest and, in the end, we believed in each other.
“Times have changed with new team-mates and a new coach but the idea and the path that Celtic always aims for is to go forward and it’s here, it’s part of the DNA. I just want to come and help as much as I can and to contribute to the team and achieve big things, just like in the past. “The aim is to win matches and give joy to the fans, and in the end it’s about winning titles and that’s what we are here to do.”