Premier League Chief Breaks Silence on Transfer He Wishes Never Happened

Liverpool’s £45 million swoop for Diogo Jota in 2020 remains one of the most memorable transfer moves of the last decade, but not for the happiest reasons at Wolves. 

Jeff Shi, the Wolves chairman, has admitted that selling Jota to Liverpool was a decision he now deeply regrets. Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Shi opened up about how the Portuguese forward’s exit unfolded and the internal discussions that led to it. 

“In the last nine or eight years, I think we shouldn’t have sold Diogo Jota,” Shi confessed. “At that time, I spoke with Nuno (Espirito Santo), and we may sell one of the players, maybe Diogo, Adama (Traore), whatever. Then Nuno chose Adama to stay, because he thought Adama was so important for how he played. So we sold Diogo.” 

At the time, Jota was battling injuries and wasn’t at his sharpest in the months leading to his departure. Shi recalled: 

“Diogo was injured a little bit too much. He was out for two months, then again, and wasn’t playing that well in the last three, four months for us.” 

Still, once the move to Liverpool was confirmed, Jota blossomed. Despite recurring injuries during his time at Anfield, he managed to tally an impressive 21 goals in his best season, helped the Reds win the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup, and earned himself a contract extension through 2027. 

“He did so well, and I was very happy for him,” Shi said. “He was a very good guy and a smart boy. But if you ask me if I can change history, I wouldn’t have sold him.” 

In hindsight, the choice to keep Adama Traore, who later left Wolves on a free transfer to Fulham in 2023, looks like a miscalculation. Meanwhile, Jota remains a valuable asset for Liverpool, though competition in the frontline is heating up. 

Last season, the 28-year-old endured his least prolific campaign at Anfield in terms of goal contributions, registering just 12 in total. However, he made 37 appearances, more than the previous two seasons, showing signs of durability. 

The arrival of Florian Wirtz in a club-record £116 million deal means Jota faces an uphill battle to keep his starting place in Jurgen Klopp’s post-title squad. Whether he reclaims a consistent role will depend on form, fitness, and how Liverpool reshape their attacking style.