James Milner doesn’t do things halfway – whether it’s outlasting half the Premier League or leading warm-ups at an age when most are eyeing retirement.

Now, at 39, the Brighton veteran has once again shown his class – and his classic dry wit – by switching to the number 20 shirt as a tribute to his late friend and former Liverpool teammate, Diogo Jota.

Milner, who’s worn Brighton’s number six since arriving from Anfield in 2023, made the change after Carlos Baleba vacated the number 20 for 17 ahead of the new season.

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

James Milner makes classy Diogo Jota gesture after Liverpool star's tragic death	James Milner changes shirt number in honour of Diogo Jota	and#8216;A great honourand#8217; and#8211; James Milner pays ultimate tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota

“It is a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League this year.”

Jota, who tragically died last month in a car crash in Porto at just 28, was more than just a goal machine for Milner – he was a kindred spirit.

Also Read: James Milner makes emotional Premier League gesture for late Diogo Jota

Milner attended his funeral in Portugal alongside other Liverpool alumni including Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago.

“I sit next to Adam Webster on the bus when we travel to [Brighton] games and the amount of times I’ve said to him ‘you don’t realise how good this guy is, this guy is amazing, I love watching him’ and Adam would say ‘yeah Milly you told me last week’.

“Every week I love watching the guy as a player and I loved training with him but, more importantly than as a player, as a guy he was incredible.

He was someone you could put in any corner of the dressing room and people loved him.”

Their friendship was legendary in the Liverpool dressing room.

“Me and him had so many fun days together winding each other up.

We had so much fun together,” Milner recalled.

“He was such an amazing family man and just someone you wanted to be around.

He was a truly amazing player and even better guy – an unbelievable guy to be around.

“He’ll be missed by everyone who knew him and everyone in the footballing world for sure.”

Brighton’s number 20 will now carry more than just digits – it will carry memory, respect, and a legacy.

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