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6d ago

James Milner to Wear Diogo Jota’s No. 20 at Brighton in Tribute

This switch marks the first Premier League appearance of Jota’s retired No. 20 shirt since his passing.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 22, 2024 Brighton & Hove Albion's James Milner REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool Training - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - February 20, 2023 Liverpool's James Milner and Diogo Jota during training Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers./File Photo
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Overview

  • James Milner will don the No. 20 shirt for Brighton’s 2025-26 season as a personal tribute to his late Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota.
  • Liverpool permanently retired the No. 20 shirt across its men’s, women’s and academy teams after consulting Jota’s wife Rute and family.
  • Milner’s switch was made possible when teammate Carlos Baleba vacated the No. 20 by opting for the No. 17 jersey.
  • He agreed a one-year contract extension with Brighton in June and now sits on 638 Premier League appearances, placing him within reach of the all-time record of 653 games.
  • Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a July 3 car crash in northwestern Spain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire.