A promising young Chinese footballer has tragically passed away after suffering a severe head injury during training in Spain, his club confirmed on Thursday.
Guo Jiaxuan, a member of the Beijing U-20 men’s team, fell into a coma last month following an accident during a training match against Spanish side RC Alcobendas in Madrid.
He was declared “brain dead” by a local hospital before being transferred back to China for further care at Beijing Tiantan Hospital.
Guo, who had also played for Beijing Guoan’s U-19 team and was a member of China’s U-17 squad in 2023, passed away on Wednesday evening, just one day before his 19th birthday. His club expressed deep sorrow in a social media post, saying, “We’ve lost a child who loves football. May Jiaxuan rest in peace.”
The club further assured that they would do everything possible to support Guo’s family during this difficult time: “The club will continue to provide all necessary help and support to Guo Jiaxuan’s family.”
Guo had also been part of the FC Bayern World Squad project, a talent program run by the German football giant, Bayern Munich.
In an emotional tribute on social media, Guo’s brother shared a black-and-white photo of the young defender, writing, “He’ll forever be frozen on the last day of his 18th year.” Earlier, he had posted that Guo’s condition showed “no improvement” and that the family was “gradually accepting reality.”
The circumstances surrounding Guo’s injury remain unclear, and his family has expressed frustration over a lack of communication from the Beijing Football Association (BFA). They have demanded video footage of the match, information about Guo’s medical treatment prior to his hospitalization, and clarification about his insurance coverage.
On Tuesday, Guo’s brother wrote on social media, saying the family “just want the truth and justice.”
In response, the BFA issued a statement on Thursday, explaining that it had refrained from releasing continuous updates to “avoid interference with medical work” and to respect the family’s feelings. The association also confirmed that it had obtained video footage of the match and arranged for experts to analyze it.
“We have made every effort to coordinate medical resources for treatment and meet the needs of his family as much as possible,” the BFA stated.
