Liverpool officially announced on July 26th that the club will retire the number 20 jersey of Jota, including in women’s football and youth academies. Additionally, thousands of commemorative items left by fans at Anfield Stadium will be transformed into permanent memorial sculptures, becoming an important landmark for Anfield Stadium in the future.
Liverpool Football Club sincerely thanks and deeply appreciates all those who have spent time and continue to do so at Anfield Stadium to leave commemorative items for Diógo Júnior and his brother André Silva.
Since the unfortunate passing of the brothers, countless physical commemorative items, including flowers, scarves, artwork, cards, banners, and opposing team jerseys, have collectively formed a beautiful memorial area.
This touching memorial site has become a central place for collective grief from Liverpool players, staff, and family members of both brothers.
The club has officially announced that after consultation with the family of Diógo,
the retirement of the number 20 jersey will be permanently commemorative of Diógo, covering all levels of the club, including Liverpool Women’s Football and Youth Academy.
The club now announces specific arrangements for the permanent memorial: Over the past week, thousands of commemorative items outside Anfield Stadium have been gradually removed and professionally sorted for safekeeping. Flower-related commemorative items will be composted to enrich the flower beds at all clubs (including Anfield Stadium, AXA Training Base, and AXA Melwood Training Center);
The rest of the items will be recycled by professional companies to create permanent memorial sculptures, which will become an important landmark for Anfield Stadium in the future.
An temporary tribute area has been established at Anfield for people to continue expressing their grief.
Fans wishing to customize a jersey with the “Diogo J. 20” logo can do so through official stores or online marketplaces. All proceeds will be donated to the club’s official charity LFC Foundation. The foundation commits to creating grassroots football development programs named after Diógo.
All preseason matches will include a commemorative segment, including the double match against Athletic Bilbao on August 4th. During two Asian tour games, players’ jerseys will be stitched with specially designed “Diogo J. 20” commemorative badges. Flower-laying ceremonies will take place before matches in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Anfield.
On August 1st, when the new season jerseys are released, players’ equipment will permanently feature the “Forever 20” commemorative badge, which will run throughout the entire season’s kits and off-field outfits.
The main commemorative event is scheduled for Friday, August 15th, during the first round of the Premier League (Anfield vs Bournemouth), including a fan puzzle tribute and silence ceremony, details of which will be announced separately.
The club once again thanks everyone for their continued support.