Monday, February 9, 2026 -A Nigerian footballer, Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, has d!ed after battling a severe brain stem injury in the United Kingdom.
The left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club, passed
away on Friday morning, February 6, 2026.
The club announced his d3ath in a statement on Saturday,
noting that he held on until after arrangements were made for his family to
travel to the United Kingdom.
"It is with great sadness that we must announce our
number 17 Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’ passed away yesterday morning. He fought so hard
to still be here for when his family arrived. His wife and daughter,
unfortunately, arrived this morning, a day late,” the statement read.
“He will always be a King. He will always be loved. As a
friend, as a dad, as a husband, as a brother and as a son.”
Adeniji’s d3ath comes weeks after the club appealed publicly
for prayers and financial support following his admission into intensive care.
The club on January 17, 2026, unveiled a GoFundMe campaign
to raise funds to bring his wife and young daughter from Nigeria to the UK as
his condition worsened.
In a statement published on the GoFundMe website, the club
revealed that Adeniji was admitted into intensive care on January 15, at
Queen’s Hospital, where doctors later confirmed the severity of his condition.
The club announced that all matches would be put on hold to
allow the team to support him.
The statement explained that recent changes in UK medical
law delayed the withdrawal of life support, pending further assessments,
creating a narrow window for his family to travel.
The fundraising campaign was launched to cover emergency
visa processing, flights, accommodation and living expenses for his wife and
daughter, who were based in Nigeria.
“We are in urgent need of support to help the family of Saburi
Olayinka Adeniji, a devoted husband, loving father, and valued member of Kings
Park Rangers Football Club, who is currently in critical condition following a
severe brain stem injury,” the statement read.
"Saburi
was admitted to Intensive Care on 15 January 2026 and is under the care of the
Critical Care Department at Queen’s Hospital.
"According
to his consultant in critical care, his condition has continued to deteriorate,
and he is now considered to be imminently dying. Due to the severity of his
injury, Saburi has been medically classified as brain d3ad.
"Due to
a recent change in law at the start of this year, there was an initial period
of uncertainty & confusion from the hospital which meant life support could
not be withdrawn until additional formal testing and procedures were completed.
These required assessments have now been carried out.
"The
hospital has compassionately allowed a short window of time to enable Saburi’s
family to travel to the UK so they may be with him before he passes naturally
on life support or life support is withdrawn.
"Saburi’s
wife and young daughter are currently in Nigeria. An official hospital letter
has urgently requested compassionate consideration to allow his wife to travel
to the UK as soon as possible so she can be with him and say her final goodbye.
"This
GoFundMe is being set up to help cover: Emergency visa application costs
Flights and urgent travel expenses.
"Accommodation
and living costs while she is in the UK Time is extremely limited, and this
support is needed immediately.
"Saburi
leaves behind a 4-year-old daughter, whom he adored. He worked tirelessly to
provide for his family and was deeply committed to giving his daughter a good
education and a better future.
"Beyond
the immediate need to reunite his family, this fund will also be used to
Support his wife financially as she navigates life after this devastating loss
& help secure his daughter’s education and wellbeing back home in
Nigeria.
"This
is a moment for the football world to come together players, clubs, teammates,
supporters, and friends. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a real
difference to a young family facing unimaginable heartbreak.
“If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this
page. Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and support during this tragic
time."
0 Comments