Jota’s transfer to Celtic is reported to be completed over the next 24 hours, with a four-and-a-half-year deal set to be agreed. However, the transfer fee is not clear at the time of writing.
Fabrizio Romano initially reported on Thursday that Jota would join for €10m plus a 10% sell-on clause to Rennes.
However, Ouest France now reports that the fee will be just €6m (£5.045m), less than what the Hoops paid Benfica for the Portuguese winger back in 2022.
If the fee is as low as they report, it’s some business to sell him for £25 million a year and a half ago, and now to resign him for just under £20 million less. With Jota proving himself in the Scottish Premiership, Brendan Rodgers and Celtic supporters know what they’re getting from him.
Given his stop-start spells at Al-Ittihad and Rennes in recent years, he has a point to prove.
With Rodgers revealing at Friday’s press conference that Jota was initially hesitant about returning to Celtic over fears that he would ruin his legacy at the club, a phone call from the Irishman eased his fears.
Rodgers discussed how he had the same thoughts at first, but with a league and cup double last season, a Premier Sports Cup already this season, and a place in the Champions League knockout playoffs secured on Wednesday, the Celtic boss emphasised how Jota could add to his legacy by rejoining this month.
