The football communities in England and Nigeria have been plunged into deep mourning following the tragic death of Saburi Adeniji, a Nigerian footballer who passed away in the United Kingdom after suffering a severe brain stem injury.
Adeniji, 26, was a left winger for Kings Park Rangers FC, a non-league side competing in the Eastern Counties League Division One North. The club confirmed that he died on Friday morning, after spending several weeks in intensive care.
In an emotional statement, Kings Park Rangers revealed that Adeniji showed immense courage in his final days, holding on long enough for arrangements to be made for his family to travel from Nigeria.
Heartbreakingly, his wife and young daughter arrived in England just one day after his passing.
The club paid a heartfelt tribute to the late footballer, describing him as far more than just a player.
“Ola was not just our number 17; he was family. He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, a devoted father, a loyal teammate and a true King,” the statement read.
Adeniji’s health battle became public in mid-January, when Kings Park Rangers announced that he had been admitted into intensive care.
In solidarity, the club temporarily suspended fixtures as teammates, officials, and supporters rallied around him.
As his condition deteriorated, the club supported a GoFundMe campaign aimed at reuniting Adeniji with his family. Medical updates later confirmed that he was admitted to Queen’s Hospital, Romford, East London, on January 15, 2026, where doctors diagnosed a severe and irreversible brain stem injury.
He was subsequently declared brain dead, though UK medical and legal procedures delayed the withdrawal of life support, allowing time for his family to travel and be by his side.
Adeniji’s passing has left a profound void, with tributes pouring in from fans, teammates, and members of the wider football community, who remember him not only for his talent on the pitch but for his character, humility, and strength off it.
