Jota (Spanish footballer)

José Ignacio Peleteiro Ramallo(born 16 June 1991), commonly known asJotaandJota Peleteiro, is a Spanish former professionalfootballerwho played as anattacking midfielder. A product of theCelta Vigoyouth system, he only played a handful of times for club's first team, despite appearing regularly forCelta B. He had aloanspell withReal Madrid Castillain 2012–13 and helpedEibargain promotion toLa Ligawhile on loan in the2013–14season. He subsequently spent three years with English clubBrentford, during which time he again played on loan at Eibar. In August 2017, he joinedBirmingham Cityfor a club record fee. Halfway through a four-year contract, he joined local rivalsAston Villa, where he played little, and left in October 2020 to spend the rest of the season withAlavés.
Jota played for theGalicia representative teamin a friendly game againstVenezuelain 2016.
Jota finished his development withGalicianclubCelta de Vigo, after joining the club's youth system at the age of 13.He made his first-team debut on 29 January 2011, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute forEnrique de Lucasin a 1–1 draw withBarcelona Bin theSegunda División.Jota played twice in April 2011, making his first start in a 1–0 win away toAlbaceteon 17 April – he lasted 73 minutes before being replaced byMateo– and finished the2010–11season with four appearances.His only first-team appearance of the 2011–12 season came as a 73rd-minutesubstituteforJoan Tomàsin a 3–1Copa del Reythird round win overReal Valladolidon 12 October 2011.He did however captain and top-score for Celta's B-team as they finished bottom of the2011–12 Segunda División B.With Celta's first team back inLa Ligafor the2012–13season, Jota was not in the manager's plans,and he spent the next season out onloan.
Although he said he only wanted to leave on a permanent transfer, Jota was loaned toReal Madrid Castilla, newly promoted to the Segunda División for the2012–13 season. The deal included an option to purchase for a fee of around €1 million.Mostly confined to the bench, he made just three appearances.
On Jota's return to Celta, he found new managerLuis Enriqueequally willing to dispense with his services,so he again went out on loan, joiningEibarfor the2013–14 Segunda Divisiónseason.He instantly broke into the team and made 37 appearances during the season.On 25 May 2014, Jota scored the only goal of the game at home toDeportivo Alavésthat confirmed Eibar's promotion to La Liga for the first time in the club's history.Jota finished the season with 11 goals and collected a Segunda División winners' medal after Eibar were promoted as champions.In recognition of his performances, Jota was one of three nominees for the Best Attacking Midfielder award at the 2014LFP Awards– he lost out toAyoze Pérez– and was named in the division's Team of the Year.
Eduardo Berizzo– Luis Enrique's successor – saw Jota as part of his vision for Celta. The club opened talks with Jota's father, who acted as his representative, over a contract extension, but no agreement could be reached. Injury kept the player out of pre-season, and his omission from the team at the beginning of the season was attributed to concerns he might suffer a relapse, and had no connection to his contractual situation.Jota left Celta in August 2014, having made just five senior appearances.
On 15 August 2014, Jota signed a three-year deal with English clubBrentford, newly promoted to theChampionship, for an undisclosed fee,reported in Spain as €1.5 million.He made his debut as a 64th-minute substitute forMoses Odubajoin a 2–1 victory overBlackpoolatBloomfield Roadfour days later.He made his first start for the Bees in the following game, againstBirmingham City, but lasted only 17 minutes before being sacrificed forHarlee DeanafterTony Craigreceived astraight red card.On his seventh appearance, Jota scored his first goal for the club – firing the ball into the top corner during first-halfstoppage-time– in a 2–0 win overLeeds UnitedatGriffin Parkon 27 September.He scored again the following Saturday, convertingAlan McCormack's cross for the opening goal in a 3–1 victory overReading.
In mid-November and after two goals in 15 games, Jota revealed that the intensity of the English game meant that he was playing at only 60–70% of his capabilities.He rediscovered his form in late November, scoring four goals in his next four matches– one of which, the very late (91st minute) winner againstWest London rivalsFulham, was chosen as the Bees Player Outstanding Moment of the Season– and earning a place in the Football League Team of the Week for his performance and goal in a 3–2 victory overCardiff Cityon 20 December.His Cardiff strike, in which he "curled a stunning shot into the top corner from outside the corner of the penalty area",was nominated as Brentford's entry for the 2014 Mitre Goal of the Year award.
In late March and early April 2015, Jota scored three goals in four matches to help maintain the Bees' playoff push.He was named as one ofFourFourTwomagazine's top 40Football Leagueplayers of the season.In the final game of the season on 2 May, Jota scored and assistedAndre Grayin a 3–0 home win overWigan Athletic, winning a place in the Football League Team of the Week.The win confirmed Brentford in a fifth-place finish, which meant they would faceMiddlesbroughin theplayoff semi-finals,but Jota's first season in English football ended in a 5–1 aggregate defeat.He made 46 appearances and scored 11 goals.
Jota's2015–16season was halted on the opening day versusIpswich Townwhen hedamaged ankle ligamentsin a tackle by former Brentford teammateJonathan Douglas. He underwent surgery ten days later,and returned to action on 5 December, as a late substitute forRyan Woodsin a 2–0 victory overMilton Keynes Dons.After three further substitute appearances,Jota agreed to Brentford including an option to extend his contract to June 2018, as a precursor to his leaving the club on loan for personal reasons.
On 16 January 2016, Jota returned to Eibar, now playing in La Liga, on an 18-month loan.Eight days later, he made his first appearance in Spain's top division, replacingSaúl Berjónafter 57 minutes of a 5–2 loss atAthletic Bilbao.He made 20 appearances without scoring over the second half of the2015–16 seasonand the first half of2016–17before being recalled by Brentford.
Jota was recalled from loan by Brentford during the January 2017 transfer window,and made his first appearance on 7 January 2017 as a 61st-minute substitute forNico Yennarisduring a 5–1FA Cupthird round victory overEastleigh.He scored the first goal since his return with a late consolation in a 2–1 defeat by Wigan Athletic two weeks later.A run of five goals in five games in February, which included his firsthat-trickfor the club, won Jota a nomination for theChampionship Player of the Monthaward.He finished the season as Brentford's third-leading scorer behindLasse Vibeand the departedScott Hogan,with 12 goals from 23 appearances, and the club triggered the one-year option on his contract.
Jota joined Championship clubBirmingham Cityon 31 August 2017 on a four-year contract. The fee was undisclosed, but was confirmed by the club to be a new record, in excess of the £6 million they paid forNikola Žigićin 2010.He was one of six debutants in the starting eleven for Birmingham's next fixture, away toNorwich City; he played the whole match as his team lost 1–0.Jota was substituted after 79 minutes of his second appearance with what appeared to be a hamstring strain.He returned to the starting eleven, but gradually lost the confidence of managerSteve Cotterilland played little after December. WhenGarry Monktook over as manager in March 2018, Jota returned to the team and started all the remaining matches as Birmingham avoided relegation.At the end of March,BBC Sport's reporter noted that "The most noticeable difference since Monk's appointment has been the greater influence of Spanish forward Jota, who struggled for goals following his club-record move from Brentford in August, but has been pivotal in Blues' successive wins either side of the international break."
He was a regular in the side throughout2018–19, apart from time lost to a groin injury in mid-season,but his performances were inconsistent. He scored only three goals over the season,but provided elevenassists,and in October, created 19 chances for team-mates, four of which led to goals, and contributed toLukas Jutkiewiczbeing namedChampionship Player of the Month.
Jota signed for Birmingham's local rivalsAston Villaon 5 June 2019. He agreed a two-year contract with the newly promotedPremier Leagueclub, and was reunited with managerDean Smithwith whom he had worked at Brentford. On the same day,Gary Gardnermoved in the opposite direction; the fees were undisclosed.He made his debut in Villa's opening fixture as a substitute for fellow new signing and debutantTrézéguetafter an hour of a 3–1 defeat away toTottenham Hotspur, and scored his first (and only) Aston Villa goal on 25 September in a 3–1 away victory againstBrighton & Hove Albionin theEFL Cup.
On 3 October 2020, Jota left Villa after reaching an agreement for the termination of his contract.
On 4 October 2020, the day after his Aston Villa exit, Jota signed forLa LigaclubDeportivo Alavéson a one-year contract.He made his Alavés debut on 18 October, in a 2–0 home league defeat toElche.He made 23 league appearances without scoring,and confirmed that he would leave the club when his contract expired at the end of the season.
After leaving Alavés, he was close to joining a side inSaudi Arabiaon a multi-year deal, but ultimately announced his retirement in October 2022, saying "in 2021, I lost the ambition I had in previous years and I didn't want that to happen. I wanted to keep in my memory how happy I have been for so many years."
Jota was called into theGaliciasquad for afriendly matchagainstVenezuelaon 20 May 2016. His shot on goal from outside the box in the 37th minute was parried by goalkeeperWuilker Faríñezand was scored byIago Aspas, he was substituted forJoseluat half time during the 1–1 draw.
Jota was described as similar in style and movement to Spain internationalDavid Silvaduring his time at Eibar.He was described as having "real technical craft" by managerMark Warburtonupon signing for Brentford.His manager at both Aston Villa and Brentford, Dean Smith, described him as having "great ability, great balance and a great eye for both goals and assists".
Jota was born inA Pobra do Caramiñal,Province of A Coruña,the son of José Ignacio Peleteiro and his wife Lupe. It was a middle-class family: his father worked for savings bankCaixa Galiciabefore managing a financial services agency and other businesses.Interviewed in 2017, Jota said he was coached by his father at his first youth club, Xuventú Aguiño.Jota married fashion model Jessica Bueno in June 2015, celebrating the wedding inMarbellaafter a civil ceremony in Pobra do Caramiñal.The couple's first child, a son, was born in February 2016; Jessica has a son from an earlier relationship.In February 2024, it was announced that Jota converted toIslam.
Eibar
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