Saburi Adeniji, a Nigerian footballer and left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club, has died after weeks in intensive care following a severe brain stem injury.
The club confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday, saying Adeniji, known to teammates and fans as Ola, passed away on Friday morning in 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.”
Kings Park Rangers said Adeniji held on long enough for arrangements to be made for his family to travel from Nigeria, but his wife and four-year-old daughter arrived a day after his death.
The club described the late footballer as a devoted family man and a valued member of the team.
“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 had been admitted to the intensive care unit at Queen’s Hospital on January 15, 2026. Doctors later confirmed that his condition had deteriorated rapidly and that he had suffered a catastrophic brain stem injury.
According to the club, he was medically classified as brain dead, though changes in UK medical procedures required further assessments before life support could be withdrawn. This delay allowed a brief window for his family to travel to be with him.
Earlier in January, Kings Park Rangers suspended all matches and appealed for prayers and financial support after disclosing that Adeniji was bedridden.
As his condition worsened, the club launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for emergency visas, flights and accommodation to bring his wife and daughter to the UK.
“Saburi leaves behind a four-year-old daughter, whom he adored,” the club said. “He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and secure a better future for her.”
Kings Park Rangers said funds raised would continue to support Adeniji’s wife and help safeguard his daughter’s education and wellbeing.
The club called on the wider football community to support the bereaved family, describing Adeniji’s death as a devastating loss to both the team and the sport.
