Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, a Nigerian footballer who played for non‑league side Kings Park Rangers in the United Kingdom, has died after suffering a severe brain injury, his club confirmed in a statement.
Adeniji was admitted to Queen’s Hospital in the UK on January 15, 2026, after sustaining a serious brain stem injury. The injury prompted his club to suspend matches temporarily and launch a fundraising campaign to support travel and assistance for his family in Nigeria.
Kings Park Rangers Football Club is based in Great Cornard, Suffolk, and competes in the non‑league football system in England. The club publicly shared updates on Adeniji’s condition and appealed for prayers and support from the football community.
In a statement released by Kings Park Rangers, the club confirmed that Adeniji, popularly known as “Ola,” died on the morning of Friday, February 6, 2026.
The announcement said, “It is with great sadness that we must announce our number 17 Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’ passed away yesterday morning.”
The club added that Adeniji fought to stay alive until arrangements were made for his family to travel to the United Kingdom, but his wife and daughter arrived a day after his death.
Earlier, Kings Park Rangers had confirmed that all matches would be put on hold to offer support to Adeniji and that they had launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for emergency visa processing, flights, and accommodation for his family members.
Adeniji is survived by his wife and his four‑year‑old daughter, according to the club’s statement, which described him as a devoted family man and a valued member of the team.
The confirmation of Adeniji’s death closes the public chapter on his medical fight following the severe brain injury in January. The club’s fundraising efforts were geared toward facilitating his family’s travel and posthumous support for his bereaved relatives.
News of his passing was shared by local media and football outlets in the UK and Nigeria, demonstrating the attention the case drew across communities connected to non‑league football and diaspora sports circles.
The club’s appeal for support and prayers earlier in January reflected concern for his welfare in intensive care and the urgency around family reunification.
