Guo Jiaxuan, an 18-year-old Chinese footballer, has tragically passed away after suffering a severe head injury during a friendly match in Spain last month.
The young defender, who was part of Beijing Guoan’s youth setup and had previously represented China’s U-17 national team, was knocked unconscious after receiving a knee to the head in a training game against Spanish club RC Alcobendas in Madrid.
The match was organized by the Beijing Football Association.
Declared Brain Dead in Spain, Repatriated to China
Following the February 6 incident, Guo was rushed to a medical facility in Madrid, where he was declared brain dead.
Despite the grim prognosis, his father refused to turn off life support, opting to fly him back to China for further treatment.
On February 13, Guo was repatriated via air ambulance and admitted to Tiantan Hospital in Beijing.
He was kept on life support until his condition worsened, leading to his official death declaration yesterday.
A Rising Talent Lost
Guo Jiaxuan had been a promising prospect in Chinese football. He joined Beijing Guoan at age 13 and had the opportunity to train with Bayern Munich in 2023 as part of the club’s World Squad—a global initiative to develop young talents.
His brother revealed on social media that Guo had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage—a severe form of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain—as a result of the accidental collision.
RC Alcobendas’ Initial Support
Following the incident, RC Alcobendas issued a statement offering support to Guo and his family, saying:
“We send all our support to him, his family, and his team at this difficult time. We sincerely wish you a speedy recovery.”
The club has yet to comment after confirmation of his death.
