Henderson Honors Late Teammate Jota with Dedicated Goal

Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson paid a heartfelt tribute to his late former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota following a goal in Sunday's draw against Leeds United. The England international, who played alongside Jota for 77 games, scored his first Premier League goal in four years, recreating Jota's signature celebration to honor his memory.

Jota, who tragically died in a car crash in July at the age of 28, along with his brother Andre Silva, was remembered by Henderson with a poignant gesture. After scoring, Henderson mimicked Jota's famous celebration of sitting down and pretending to play a computer game.

"It was his birthday recently," Henderson, now 35, shared with Sky Sports. "We will never forget him. We always remember him forever. I can only imagine what the lads at Liverpool are going through. He was a good friend, and like I said, I don't score many goals, so I thought I would dedicate it to him."

Henderson's emotional connection to Jota was evident when he laid flowers in Jota's honor outside Anfield the day after his passing. On Instagram, Henderson wrote, "It was a pleasure to share a pitch with you but more importantly a friendship." The pair had featured together in the 2022 FA Cup final, where Liverpool defeated Chelsea on penalties.

Henderson's journey since leaving Liverpool has included a stint with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq in July 2023, followed by a move to Ajax in January 2024. He recently returned to English football, joining Brentford after terminating his deal with the Dutch club.

At 35 years and 180 days, Henderson became Brentford's oldest Premier League goal scorer when his low shot deflected off Leeds defender Jaka Bijol, giving his side a temporary lead that was later equalized by Dominic Calvert-Lewin's header.

"Jordan's experience and knowledge of the game are second to none," Brentford manager Keith Andrews commented to Sky Sports. "He has been an impactful player for us. He has settled into life here really well and has played a big part. Long may it continue."