Saburi Adeniji, a Nigerian footballer and left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club, has died after battling a severe brain stem injury, the club has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Kings Park Rangers announced that Adeniji, fondly known as “Ola,” passed away on Friday morning, noting that he held on long enough for arrangements to be 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,” the club said.
“He fought so hard to still be here for when his family arrived. His wife and daughter, unfortunately, arrived this morning — a day late.”
Describing the late footballer as a devoted family man and cherished member of the team, the club paid glowing tribute to his character on and off the pitch.
“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,” the statement added.
Adeniji’s death comes weeks after the club publicly appealed for prayers and financial support following his admission into intensive care.
On January 17, Kings Park Rangers disclosed that the winger had become bedridden, announcing the suspension of all matches as players and officials rallied around him.
“We are asking everyone to pray for our left winger Saburi Adeniji (Ola). All Kings Park Rangers games will be on hold as we look to support him at his bedside until he is better,” the club said at the time.
As his condition deteriorated, the club launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to bring his wife and young daughter from Nigeria to the United Kingdom.
In a detailed statement on the fundraising page, the club revealed that Adeniji was admitted to Queen’s Hospital on January 15, 2026, under the care of the Critical Care Department.
“According to his consultant in critical care, his condition continued to deteriorate and he was considered to be imminently dying,” the statement read.
“Due to the severity of his injury, Saburi was medically classified as brain dead.”
The club explained that changes in UK medical law delayed the withdrawal of life support, pending further assessments, allowing a brief window for his family to travel.
“The hospital 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family to travel to the UK so they may be with him before he passes naturally on life support or life support is withdrawn,” it said.
Funds raised were intended to cover emergency visa processing, flights, accommodation and living expenses for his family, as well as provide long-term support.
Adeniji is survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter, whom the club said he adored deeply.
“He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and was deeply committed to giving his daughter a good education and a better future,” the statement added.
Describing the loss as devastating, Kings Park Rangers called on the wider football community to stand in solidarity with the bereaved family.
“This is a moment for the football world to come together — players, clubs, teammates, supporters and friends,” the club said.
