James Milner will wear the No. 20 shirt at Brighton this season in memory of the late Diogo Jota, describing his former teammate as a "great friend."

James Milner will wear the number 20 shirt at Brighton this season in memory of the late Diogo Jota, describing his former Liverpool team-mate as a “great friend”. The Portuguese forward died aged 28 last month in a car crash, alongside his brother Andre Silva, just weeks after helping Liverpool clinch Premier League title glory.

Brighton & Hove Albion's James Milner will don the number 20 shirt this season as a tribute to former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain last month.

Liverpool have retired the number 20 shirt worn by Jota in his five seasons at the club but Milner has opted to take the vacant shirt number at Brighton, after team-mate Carlos Baleba decided to switch numbers for the upcoming season.

Milner played with Jota for Liverpool for three years after the striker joined in 2020 from Wolves, until Milner himself left at the end of his contract in 2023. Milner also attended the wake and funeral of Jota and his brother Andre Silva alongside his former teammates earlier this month.

James Milner has now shown a remarkable sign of respect to his friend and former team-mate, by changing his shirt number ahead of the upcoming season for Brighton from No.6 to No.20. Carlos Baleba’s number became available and Milner jumped at the chance of a number swap.

James Milner will wear Diogo Jota’s old shirt number for Brighton next season. The former Liverpool star will pay tribute to his ex-team-mate following his tragic death last month. Jota

Milner said: “Once I heard Carlos was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and pay tribute to Diogo Jota, who was an amazing player I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well.

James Milner will wear the No.20 shirt at Brighton & Hove Albion this season as a tribute to his former Liverpool teammate and friend Diogo Jota. Jota, 28, died in a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25, in northern Spain on July 3 as the pair made their way to Santander to board a ferry back to England.