Born in Portugal on 30 March 1999, 'Jota' Neves Filipe, commonly known as Jota, is a versatile forward proficient as a left winger. Standing at 5ft 8in (1.75m) and weighing 10st 7lb (67kg), he has made a name for himself in Scottish football, donning the revered number 7 jersey for Celtic. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is roughly around £6m.
Jota's early career began in the youth ranks of Benfica, a prominent Portuguese outfit. He ascended to the first team during the 2018-2019 season, garnering 23 appearances over two campaigns. In October 2020, Jota moved to Spain's Segunda División with Real Valladolid on a loan agreement, featuring in 17 league matches and chipping in with a solitary goal.
In August 2021, Jota found a new home in Scotland, moving to Celtic on loan. His performances caught the eye, earning him 29 appearances and yielding an impressive ten goals. Celtic saw enough promise to secure his services on a permanent deal for around £6.5m in July 2022. His impressively consistent form saw him making 77 first team appearances and scoring a respectable total of 25 goals throughout his time at Celtic. However, the current 2025-2026 season has not seen Jota feature for the Hoops yet.
July 2023 marked another pivotal moment in Jota's career as he bagged a move to Al-Ittihad in the Pro League in Saudi Arabia for an eye-watering sum of £25m. A single season at Al-Ittihad yielded 16 appearances and four goals. An abrupt change of scenario saw him move to Rennes in France's Ligue 1 for a reduced fee of £6.8m.
Following a brief stint at Rennes, where he made nine appearances and scored once, Jota returned to familiar surroundings by rejoining Celtic for around £8.5m in January 2025. He continued to deliver performances reminiscent of his earlier form. He also featured in the Scottish Cup 2024-2025 for Celtic, scoring one goal in his three appearances, proving instrumental even off the bench.
Over the years, Jota has experienced a rollercoaster ride of movements and performances, but his time at Celtic remains a significant highlight of his career.
