Jota has completed his mega money move from Celtic to Al-Ittihad.
At a time when Saudi clubs are dropping major dollar in order to tempt stars from Europe, the Portuguese's departure has still come as a shock after a stellar two seasons at Parkhead. Ange Postecoglou paid £6.5million to make his loan from Benfica, who will receive a 30 per cent sell on fee, a permanent switch last summer. It proved a shrewd move, with Jota helping the Hoops to a clean sweep of domestic trophies.
Money has always talked, and the Saudi pro League outfit have screamed rather than whispered in the player's ear with an eye-watering transfer fee and salary that was too good for club or player to turn down. He now teams up with former Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema and Chelsea's ex-midfielder enforcer N'Golo Kante in the Middle East. Former Hearts boss Ian Cathro will oversee Jota in training, having becoming first team coach at Al-Ittihad last year.
Jota made 83 appearances in total for Celtic, scoring 28 times. A habit of netting against Rangers did him no harm, while his assists weren't far behind, providing 26 over two seasons. He signs a three-year deal in Saudi.
The Saudi club had a full-on signing video ready, which shows boss Espirito Santo plucking Jota's name from a pack of cards with the hashtag Jota is Yellow. A Celtic statement read: "After two seasons with the club, one on loan from Benfica and one on a full contract, Portuguese winger, Jota has left Celtic to join Saudi Arabian club, Al-Ittihad.
"In his time in the Hoops, Jota won two league titles as well as picking up winner’s medals in both the Scottish and League Cups. Everyone at Celtic Football Club wishes Jota success in his future career."
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