Nigerian footballer and Kings Park Rangers FC winger, Saburi Adeniji, has died after battling a severe brain stem injury, the club has announced.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the club said Adeniji, fondly known as Ola, passed away on Friday morning, noting that he held on until arrangements were made for his family to travel from Nigeria to the United Kingdom.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that our number 17, Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’, passed away yesterday morning,” the statement read.

“He fought so hard to remain with us until his family could arrive. Sadly, his wife and daughter arrived this morning, a day after his passing.”

The club described the late footballer as a devoted family man and a cherished member of the Kings Park Rangers family.

“He will always be a King. He will always be loved,  as a friend, a father, a husband, a brother and a son,” the statement added.

Adeniji’s death comes weeks after the club publicly appealed for prayers and support following his admission into intensive care.

On January 17, Kings Park Rangers disclosed that the winger had been hospitalised, announcing that all matches would be placed on hold to allow players and officials support 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 support him at his bedside,” the club said at the time.

As his condition deteriorated, the club launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to enable his wife and young daughter travel from Nigeria to the UK.

In a detailed statement published on the fundraising platform, the club revealed that Adeniji was admitted to the intensive care unit at Queen’s Hospital on January 15, 2026.

According to the statement, medical consultants later confirmed the severity of his condition, explaining that he had sustained a critical brain stem injury and had been medically classified as brain dead.

“The hospital compassionately allowed a short window to enable his family travel to the UK so they could be with him before he passed naturally on life support or before life support was withdrawn,” the statement said.

The fundraising campaign was aimed at covering emergency visa processing, flights, accommodation and living expenses for his family.

Adeniji is survived by his wife and a four-year-old daughter.

The club said that beyond facilitating family reunification, funds raised would also support his widow and help secure his daughter’s education and future wellbeing.

“Saburi leaves behind a four-year-old daughter whom he adored. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and was deeply committed to giving her a better future,” the statement read.

Describing the loss as devastating, Kings Park Rangers called on the football community to rally around the bereaved family.

“This is a moment for the football world to come together, players, clubs, teammates, supporters and friends,” the club said.