A bizarre Al-Ittihad transfer video has confirmed Jota's £25million move from Celtic.
The 24-year-old makes the permanent switch following two years in Glasgow, having spent one season on loan from Benfica before signing a permanent contract.
Jota helped Celtic to two league titles during his time with the club, scoring 27 goals over a two-year spell in all competitions.
He follows a number of high-profile players in joining the Saudi Pro League and becomes Al-Ittihad’s third signing of the summer after former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and ex-Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante signed for the club.
After the signing, Celtic wrote on the club website: “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.”
Al-Ittihad confirmed the transfer in bizarre fashion with manager Nuno Espirito Santo featuring heavily in an animated video.
The former Wolves and Spurs boss can be seen watching Jota's Celtic highlights before he has a choice to make with a number of Hoops-inspired playing cards.
The right choice for the right place 🃏#JotaIsYellowpic.twitter.com/FMduUvLXD4
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) July 3, 2023
In the end he opts to select Jota and he concludes with the final message of: "We want to rule the world."
Meanwhile, Odin Thiago Holm could not wait to get away from Valerenga when the chance to join Celtic came along.
The 20-year-old midfielder became the Parkhead club’s first recruit of the 2023/24 season and the new Brendan Rodgers era last month when he signed a five-year deal.
The Norwegian had no hesitation when the opportunity to move to the Hoops arose.
He told CelticTV: “I didn’t really think, I just wanted to leave as soon as possible.
“It’s Champions League, you play to win every game, it’s a big club.
“It feels really nice, it’s a really big club.
“I don’t think people in Norway understand how big the club is, because Valerenga is a club from the capital with 10,000 for each game and here we have 60,000 so it’s a really big step.”
