UK-based Nigerian footballer Saburi Adeniji, who featured for Kings Park Rangers Football Club, has passed away after suffering a serious brain stem injury, the club has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Kings Park Rangers announced that the left winger, fondly known as Ola, died on Friday morning after spending several weeks in intensive care.
“With deep sadness, we announce that our number 17, Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’, passed away yesterday morning,” the club said. “He fought bravely to remain alive until his family could arrive. Sadly, his wife and daughter arrived this morning, just a day too late.”
The club described Adeniji as a committed family man and a highly valued member of the Kings Park Rangers family, noting that his impact on and off the pitch would never be forgotten.
“He will always be a King and will always be loved—as a friend, a father, a husband, a brother, and a son,” the statement added.
Adeniji’s death follows weeks of concern after the club appealed for prayers and financial assistance when he was admitted into intensive care. On January 17, the club disclosed that he was bedridden and announced the suspension of all matches in solidarity with their teammate.
As his health worsened, Kings Park Rangers launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to bring his wife and young daughter from Nigeria to the United Kingdom.
According to updates shared by the club, Adeniji was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Queen’s Hospital on January 15, 2026. Medical experts later confirmed that his condition continued to decline and that he was medically classified as brain dead.
The club explained that changes in UK medical procedures delayed the withdrawal of life support, allowing time for his family to travel and be with him in his final moments.
Funds raised through the campaign were meant to cover emergency travel arrangements, accommodation, living expenses, and long-term support for his family.
Saburi Adeniji is survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter. The club noted that he was deeply devoted to his family and worked tirelessly to secure a better future for his child.
Describing the loss as heartbreaking, Kings Park Rangers called on the wider football community to support Adeniji’s family during this difficult time.
