Jeff Shi, chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers, has publicly expressed regret over the decision to sell Diogo Jota to Liverpool in September 2020 for £45 million. The decision, influenced by then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo's preference to retain Adama Traore, is now seen as a misstep.

Shi's comments came during an interview on the Business of Sport podcast, where he reflected on key decisions made during Fosun International's nine-year ownership of Wolves. The initial transfer saw Jota move to Anfield following three successful years at Molineux, where he scored 44 goals and assisted 13 times, helping Wolves achieve promotion and establish themselves in the Premier League.

"In the last eight or nine years, I think we shouldn’t have sold Diogo Jota," Shi admitted. "At that time, I spoke with Nuno and we may sell one of the players, maybe Diogo, Adama (Traore) , whatever. Then Nuno chose Adama to stay, because he thinks maybe Adama was."

Jota's time at Liverpool has been marked by both success and challenges. Despite injuries, he has contributed significantly, including a 21-goal season and helping the team secure Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup titles. His versatility and goal-scoring ability have made him a valuable asset to Liverpool's attacking options. While Wolves have since surpassed the transfer fee received for Jota with the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United for £62.5 million, the regret remains, highlighting the impact Jota could have continued to have at Wolves.