Jota transfer news: Celtic re-sign winger from Rennes in £8m deal just 18 months after £25m Saudi exit | Football News

Jota has returned to Celtic in an £8m deal – simply 18 months after leaving the Scottish champions for £25m.

The Portuguese winger arrives from Rennes and has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal at Parkhead, topic to worldwide clearance, which can see him stay on the membership till June 2030.

In 2023, Jota swapped Celtic for a big-money transfer to Saudi facet Al Ittihad however was ignored of the membership’s Professional League squad and located himself on the fringes of the beginning XI for Asian Champions League matches.

He then moved to Rennes final summer season, however the appointment of latest supervisor Jorge Sampaoli left the participant searching for one other transfer – and he has his want after returning to Celtic.

Jota initially moved to Parkhead on mortgage from Benfica in 2021, earlier than being signed completely on a five-year deal the next season.

The previous Benfica participant scored 28 targets and offered 26 assists in 83 appearances, plus received 5 main honours with the Parkhead membership.

‘It simply feels proper’

Jota talking to the media for the primary time since returning to the membership:

“As soon as I actually had the time to suppose on it and perceive that this was the very best step for my profession at this second, I felt like, ‘okay, let’s go for it as soon as once more’ and it simply feels proper.

“It is clearly been a 12 months and a half with some difficulties, largely contained in the pitch the place I did not have a number of alternatives to play and clearly bodily it is not my greatest second, however that can come rapidly with minutes, sport time, trainings and I simply cannot anticipate it.

“I am simply attending to know a few of the lads, I believe solely 9 gamers stay because the final time however undoubtedly there’s a number of expertise, there’s room for enchancment and below the orders of Brendan, I believe there is a good surroundings to develop and to win stuff.

“I’ve realized a number of stuff, I’ve identified myself in numerous ways in which I did not know and I believe that is all positives ultimately of the day as a result of I am far more mature. I’ve a special imaginative and prescient from what I would like and what I need to obtain.

“I am very conscious of myself, so ultimately that is what I take from it.”

Rodgers: Jota can develop Celtic legacy

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers is wanting ahead to lastly working with the winger:

“A fully unbelievable addition to our squad, given what he is completed right here earlier than and his qualities.

“He was one participant that once I was coming again the primary time, I used to be actually, actually wanting ahead to working with. I might seen him play for Celtic, after all, and seen the influence that he made by way of creating targets, scoring targets.

“Just about earlier than I arrived, it was very clear that he was gone. That was disappointing.

“I’ve spoken to him at size. The problem at all times is, and I do know by way of first-hand expertise, is that while you’ve created a legacy, numerous individuals will inform you to come back again and perhaps for that to be dented in any manner.

“My feeling and recommendation to him was, come again and develop that legacy to be even higher.

“For those who’re not comfortable in your work the place you’re or the way it’s going for you, you recognize that this can be a place the place you’ll enhance, you’ll develop.

“He is at a special second in his life now as properly, regardless that he is been away only some years. I believe that he’ll come again with an actual motivation. He is acquired an undoubted high quality.”