In a surprising revelation, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has disclosed the name of the player who played a major role in convincing him to sign Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The transfer, which took place in 2020, has long been praised as one of Liverpool’s most astute signings of the Klopp era — but few knew the behind-the-scenes story of how it actually came about.
According to Klopp, one of his senior players personally recommended Jota after facing him several times in the Premier League. The player reportedly described Jota as “a nightmare to defend against” and highlighted his relentless work rate, positional intelligence, and clinical finishing. Those glowing endorsements caught Klopp’s attention and prompted Liverpool’s scouting department to take a deeper look.
After weeks of analysis and data review, Klopp was convinced — and Liverpool moved quickly to secure Jota’s signature for around £45 million. The Portuguese forward went on to make an immediate impact at Anfield, becoming a vital part of Klopp’s high-pressing system and scoring crucial goals in both domestic and European competitions.
Reflecting on the decision, Klopp admitted that sometimes the best scouting advice comes from within the dressing room:
“You trust your players because they know what it’s like to face top talent. When someone tells you, ‘This guy is a real problem,’ you listen.”
Jota has since established himself as one of Liverpool’s most dependable attackers, known for his versatility and clinical finishing — a signing that might never have happened without a teammate’s timely recommendation.