18-Year-Old Chinese Footballer, Guo Jiaxuan Dies After Head Injury In Spain

18-year-old Chinese footballer, Guo Jiaxuan has died after suffering a severe head injury during a training session in Spain.

Guo Jiaxuan, a player for Beijing Guoan’s U-19 team, fell into a coma last month after an accident in a training match between Beijing’s U-20 squad and Spanish club RC Alcobendas in Madrid.

He was declared brain dead at a local hospital before being transferred to Beijing Tiantan Hospital in China for further treatment.

It was gathered that the young footballer passed away on Wednesday evening, just one day before his 19th birthday.

“We’ve lost a child who loves football. May Jiaxuan rest in peace!” Beijing Guoan said in a statement.

“The club will continue to do its utmost to properly handle the aftermath and provide all necessary help and support to Guo Jiaxuan’s family.”

Guo Jiaxuan was previously selected for China’s U-17 national team in 2023 and was once part of the FC Bayern World Squad, a project by Germany’s top football club.

His brother shared a black-and-white photo of Guo on social media with the caption: “He’ll forever be frozen on the last day of his 18th year”.

Last month, he had expressed concern over Guo’s condition, stating that there had been “no improvement” and that the family was slowly coming to terms with the situation.

The exact details of how Guo sustained the injury remain unclear, and his family has accused the Beijing Football Association (BFA) of withholding crucial information about the incident.

They have demanded video footage of the match, medical records from before he reached the hospital, and details of his insurance coverage.

On Tuesday, Guo’s brother wrote online, “We only want the truth and justice.”

In response, the BFA released a statement on Thursday explaining why they had not continuously updated the public, saying they aimed to prevent interference in medical treatment and respect the family’s emotions.

They also confirmed they had now obtained footage of the match and were analyzing it with experts.

“We have made every effort to coordinate medical resources for treatment and meet the needs of his family as much as possible,” the BFA said.

KanyiDaily had also reported how a Nigerian footballer identified as Ado Bala Hadi slumped and died during a live match in Spain.