If you walk into a pub anywhere near the East End of Glasgow and mention the name João Pedro Neves Filipe, you probably won't get a blank stare, but you might get a polite correction. "You mean Jota?" they'll ask. To the Celtic faithful, he isn't just a Portuguese winger with a mouthful of a name; he is a folk hero. A man whose career has felt like a whirlwind of high-octane highlights, bizarre transfer drama, and a recent, triumphant return that felt more like a movie script than a standard football transaction.
Football is weird. One day you’re the king of Scotland, and the next you’re a ghost in the desert, literally barred from playing because of registration quotas. That’s the reality Jota faced. Most people know him for the flair—the 1980s pop-star hair and the ability to turn a full-back inside out—but his journey from the Benfica academy to the Saudi Pro League and back to his "spiritual home" at Celtic Park is a masterclass in why talent alone isn't always enough in the modern game.
The Benfica Roots and the Scottish Spark
João Pedro Neves Filipe didn't just stumble into professional football. He was the crown jewel of Benfica’s youth system. Think about that for a second. Benfica produces world-class talent like a factory line, and Jota was right at the front of it. He won the U17 and U19 European Championships with Portugal. He wasn't just a participant; he was the top scorer and the best player in that U19 tournament.
But the jump to the first team in Lisbon? It's tough. He found minutes hard to come by. A loan to Real Valladolid in Spain followed, and honestly, it was forgettable. He scored once. The team got relegated. It looked like he might become another "wonderkid" who peaked at 18 and faded into the background of European mid-table obscurity.
Then came Celtic.
In the summer of 2021, Ange Postecoglou was rebuilding a broken squad. He took a gamble on Jota. It wasn't just a good fit; it was explosive. Jota finished that first season with 13 goals and 14 assists. He wasn't just productive; he was cinematic. He scored chips, long-range screamers, and tap-ins that came from just being smarter than everyone else on the pitch. Celtic fans didn't just like him; they sang his name for 90 minutes straight. When the club triggered his £6.5 million buyout clause in 2022, it felt like the steal of the century.
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The Saudi "Nightmare" and the Road to Rennes
Everything changed in July 2023. Money talks, and Al-Ittihad came knocking with a £25 million offer. For a club like Celtic, that’s "transformational" money. For Jota, it was a chance to play alongside Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante while earning a life-changing salary.
But the dream turned into a mess almost immediately.
Within weeks of his arrival in Saudi Arabia, reports surfaced that he was being frozen out. Because of the league's rules on foreign players, Al-Ittihad actually left him out of their domestic squad registration. Imagine being a £25 million asset and only being allowed to play in "friendlies" or the AFC Champions League. He was effectively a prisoner in a gold-plated cage. Fans were confused. The media was ruthless. It was a spectacular example of how the "new era" of Saudi football could sometimes be incredibly disorganized.
He eventually escaped to Ligue 1, joining Rennes in August 2024 for about €8 million. A massive loss for the Saudi club, but a lifeline for Jota. He spent half a season in France, regaining some of that match fitness, but the "spark" wasn't quite there. He needed to be loved. He needed a specific kind of atmosphere.
The 2025 Return of João Pedro Neves Filipe
In January 2025, the unthinkable happened. João Pedro Neves Filipe came home.
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The news that Jota was returning to Celtic on a permanent deal sent the fanbase into a genuine frenzy. He wasn't just a signing; he was a symbol of the club's identity. He stepped back onto the pitch at Paradise and it was like he never left. He scored four goals in his first 11 matches back, proving that his time in the wilderness hadn't killed his instinct.
However, football is a cruel game. On April 26, 2025, during a match against Dundee United, Jota went down. It wasn't a "shake it off" kind of knock. It was a serious knee injury—cruciate ligament damage. It’s the kind of injury that makes fans hold their breath for months.
As we sit here in early 2026, Jota is on the cusp of his second "second coming." He’s been out since that day in April, undergoing surgery and a grueling rehab process. Reports from the club suggest his return is scheduled for early January 2026. The timing is crucial. Celtic, now under a new tactical regime, are desperate for that creative x-factor that only he provides.
What Makes Jota Different?
Most wingers today are "system players." They stay wide, they recycle possession, they cross when told. Jota is a throwback. He’s a maverick.
- The Low Center of Gravity: At 1.75m, he isn't going to out-muscle many defenders, but his agility is ridiculous. He uses his body to shield the ball, then explodes in the opposite direction.
- The Two-Footed Threat: While he’s naturally right-footed and loves the left wing, he can hit a ball with his left well enough to keep keepers guessing.
- The "Big Game" Gene: He has a weird habit of scoring in the Old Firm derby against Rangers. That's the quickest way to becoming a legend in Glasgow.
He is currently 26 years old. Technically, he is entering his absolute prime. The big question is whether the knee injury has robbed him of that initial burst of pace. If he can regain even 90% of his pre-injury explosiveness, he remains the most dangerous player in the Scottish Premiership.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following his career or looking at how he fits into the current landscape, here’s what you need to watch:
1. Watch the first five minutes of his return match.
Check his positioning. Under the current Celtic setup, the wingers are being asked to tuck inside more often. See if Jota is hugging the touchline or operating as a "10" in the half-spaces. If he's drifting central, it means the manager wants him as a playmaker rather than a pure dribbler.
2. Monitor his acceleration off the mark.
The ACL recovery is more about the mind than the body sometimes. Watch if he's hesitant to take on his man in a 1-v-1. If he starts playing "safe" back-passes, he hasn't fully recovered his confidence yet.
3. Look at his contract length.
His current deal runs until 2030. That is a massive commitment from Celtic. It tells you that the club views him as the cornerstone of their project for the next four years, regardless of the injury setback.
João Pedro Neves Filipe has already lived about three different careers in the span of five years. He's been the prodigy, the hero, the outcast, and the comeback kid. As 2026 unfolds, the football world will finally see if the "Superstar from Portugal" can reclaim his throne.