- Saburi Adeniji dies after weeks in intensive care in the UK
- Kings Park Rangers confirm death in an emotional statement
- Brain stem injury left the Nigerian footballer critically ill
- Club raised funds to reunite him with his family from Nigeria
UK-based Nigerian footballer Saburi Adeniji, a left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club, has died after battling a severe brain stem injury, the club has confirmed. His death has thrown teammates, fans, and the Nigerian football community into deep mourning.
Kings Park Rangers Football Club announced on Saturday that Saburi Adeniji, popularly known as Ola, passed away on Friday morning after spending several weeks in intensive care.
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In an emotional statement, the club described Adeniji as a fighter who held on until the very end.
“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. Sadly, his wife and daughter arrived this morning, a day late.”
The club paid tribute to Adeniji, calling him a devoted husband, father, and a loved member of the Kings Park Rangers family.
“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 Kings Park Rangers publicly appealed for prayers and financial support following his admission into intensive care.
On January 17, the club announced that all matches would be suspended in solidarity with the Nigerian footballer.
“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 worsened, the club launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to bring his wife and young daughter from Nigeria to the United Kingdom.
In a medical update shared on the fundraising page, the club disclosed that Adeniji was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Queen’s Hospital on January 15, 2026.
Doctors later confirmed that his condition had deteriorated severely.
“Due to the severity of his injury, Saburi has been medically classified as brain dead,” the update stated.
His death has sparked an outpouring of grief across the football community, with many describing him as humble, hardworking, and deeply committed to both his career and family.