Chelsea confirmed that they will donate part of their bonus from winning the 2025 Club World Cup to support the families of two short-lived players, Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.

Last month, Chelsea beat PSG 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, winning a total of £84.4m in prize money. A portion of the prize money was split between the players, who each received nearly £400,000, and the Chelsea team agreed to send £11.4m to the Jota and Silva families.

Diogo Jota and his brother died in a traffic accident while preparing for the season

Diogo Jota – Liverpool striker – and his brother died in a traffic accident on July 3. This tragedy shocked the football world, especially Pedro Neto, Jota’s former teammate at Wolverhampton and the Portuguese national team, who is now playing for Chelsea.

Coach Enzo Maresca gave Neto the choice to leave the tournament or continue playing. Neto chose to stay in the US, contributing in every match and using his achievements to thank Jota.

Several Chelsea players also celebrated the goal with tributes to their Portuguese colleague.

FIFA Club World Cup stadiums mourn Jota and his brother

Liverpool have announced that they will retire the number 20 shirt at all levels in memory of Jota. In addition, “The Kop” has decided to pay the remaining 2 years’ salary (about 20 million USD) in Diogo Jota’s contract so that his family can take care of and raise their children until adulthood.

Liverpool will provide educational support for all three of Jota’s children, and emotional support for his parents and wife Rute Cardoso.

Chelsea players use championship bonus to donate to Jota and Silva families

Chelsea’s act of kindness has been praised by English football fans. Supporter Mark Goldbridge wrote: “The Chelsea players are truly classy in donating a large sum of money to the Jota family.”

One Liverpool fan said: “Chelsea have given Diogo Jota a special gesture”, while another stressed: “Football should unite, not divide”. A Chelsea fan also proudly said: “My club is always classy”.

Fans did not hesitate to praise the Chelsea player’s act.

Clubs will pay tribute to Jota and Andre Silva on the first weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with a minute’s silence observed at each game, players wearing black armbands and messages of gratitude projected on stadium screens.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said: “It’s going to be a very difficult season, but we’re together. As a team, as fans and as a club, we’ll get through it with unity and team spirit.”

Jota has made 190 Premier League appearances for Wolves and Liverpool, scoring 63 goals and providing 24 assists. He helped Liverpool win the title last season.