UK-Based Nigerian Footballer, Saburi Adeniji, Dies After Brain Injury

The football communities in the United Kingdom and Nigeria are mourning the death of 26-year-old Nigerian winger Saburi Adeniji, who passed away on Friday after suffering a severe brain stem injury.

Adeniji, who played for Kings Park Rangers FC, a non-league side in Sudbury, England, had been in critical care since mid-January. His club announced that he held on until arrangements were finalized for his family to travel from Nigeria to be with him.

Born in Ibadan, Adeniji was a practising Muslim and a qualified accountant, having studied at The Polytechnic, Ibadan before relocating to the UK on a student visa. His football journey began on the local pitches of Ibadan before he eventually joined Kings Park Rangers, where he was valued for his pace and work rate on the wing.

After falling ill in early January, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his admission to the Intensive Care Unit at Queen’s Hospital. He was later declared brain-dead.

In response, his club suspended matches and launched a fundraising campaign to support his wife and four-year-old daughter, who were in Nigeria. The effort aimed to cover emergency travel and living expenses for his family.

Despite a compassionate window allowed by the hospital for his family to arrive, Adeniji passed away before a full reunion could take place.

He is remembered by teammates and supporters as a disciplined and determined individual, with the club stating that raised funds will continue to support his widow and secure his daughter’s future.