From Benfica's academy to a record-breaking move to Saudi Arabia
In short: A winger's journey through the European leagues is rarely a straight line. After finding limited minutes at Benfica, Jota's career took a transformative turn in Scotland, leading to a massive £25 million transfer to Al-Ittihad and a subsequent return to Celtic.
Born in Lisbon in March 1999, João Pedro Neves Filipe—known professionally as Jota—developed through the Benfica youth academy before making his first-team debut in October 2018. His early career was marked by a series of loans and developmental steps, including a stint at Real Valladolid in La Liga during the 2020–21 season, where he scored on his debut against Granada but ultimately saw the club relegated.
Jota's career reached a significant turning point when he joined Celtic on loan in September 2021. His impact was immediate; he earned SPFL Player of the Month honors in both October and November 2021, and again in April 2022. After a highly successful loan spell where he provided 14 assists, Celtic triggered a £6.5 million buyout clause in July 2022 to sign him permanently.
His success in the Scottish Premiership caught the attention of the Saudi Pro League. In July 2023, Al-Ittihad signed him for a reported club-record fee of £25 million, placing him alongside stars like Karim Benzema. However, his time in Saudi Arabia was complicated by squad rules that limited foreign players, leading to him being left out of the domestic squad by manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
Following a move to Rennes in August 2024, Jota returned to Celtic in January 2025 for a fee of £8.4 million. His return has been met with both highlights, such as a 94th-minute goal against Motherwell, and setbacks, including a cruciate ligament injury in April 2025 that manager Martin O'Neill confirmed would sideline him for the 2025–26 season.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jota (footballer, born March 1999)
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