Jota, whose full name is 'Jota' Neves Filipe, is an acclaimed Portuguese forward. Born on 30 March 1999, the now 26-year-old primarily plays as a left-winger for Celtic, a position that he has honed over time. Standing at 5ft 8in (1.75m) and weighing around 10st 7lb (67kg), Jota dons the prestigious number 7 jersey with pride.
After pulling his boots on for the first time at Benfica in Portugal as a trainee in July 2007, Jota finally made his debut in the 2018-2019 season. During this season, he broke into the first team on four occasions. The next season saw him further enhancing his footprints on the turf, featuring 19 times for Benfica's first-team in league matches. Transfermarkt approximates Jota's current market value to be around £6m.
In October 2020, seeking a change of scenery and opportunity, Jota was loaned out to Real Valladolid in Spain's Segunda División. He played 17 matches and netted his first professional goal during this spell. However, it wasn't until his transfer to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership in August 2021 that his goal-scoring exploits began in earnest.
Defying expectations and delighting Celtic fans, Jota performed remarkably in the 2021-2022 season, making 29 first team appearances and scoring ten goals. This fine form persisted in the 2022-2023 season, where he made 33 appearances and dispatched 11 goals. His performances were sufficient to provoke Celtic into securing his services permanently from Benfica for around £6.5m in July 2022.
Despite a short but lucrative switch to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia for £25m in July 2023, where he knocked in four goals from sixteen appearances, Celtic was never far from his heart. In the 2024-2025 season, he returned to the team from Rennes in France for around £8.5million. He played 11 matches, scoring four goals. However, it is worth noting that he is yet to make an appearance in the current 2025-2026 season.
With a career marked by noteworthy spells across Europe and an unforgettable run at Celtic, Jota continues to leave his mark on the beautiful game.
