Bayern Munich have confirmed the death of former player Guo Jiaxuan, who sadly passed away at just 18, following a tragic incident in a training game. The promising defender was part of the club’s international initiative, the World Squad, designed to develop talent globally.
His death came after he was hit in the head by the knee of an opposing player during a match in Spain last month. Guo suffered an uncommon type of stroke, known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, due to bleeding on the brain’s surface. He plunged into a coma and received care at a local hospital where his family learned that he lacked any brain function. His condition worsened, leading to a transfer to a Beijing hospital, where he died one day shy of his 19th birthday.
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Bayern Munich released an emotional tribute saying: “FC Bayern is mourning the passing of Guo Jiaxuan, the former World Squad player who has died at the age of 18 in his native China. He succumbed to the effects of a serious head injury following a tragic accident during a training match in Spain on 6 February. The club’s thoughts are with his family and friends.
“The centre-back was part of the FC Bayern World Squad in 2023, which gives talented players from all over the world the chance to showcase themselves for professional football. Jiaxuan was also part of China’s youth national teams.”
In the youth ranks of Chinese top-flight team Beijing Guoan, Guo showcased his talent and donned the national jersey at the under-17 level in 2023. His prowess secured him a spot in the World Squad that same year, the only Chinese player selected.
On the Chinese social media app RedNote, Guo’s brother posted a black-and-white photo of the teenage defender alongside the caption: “He’ll forever be frozen on the last day of his 18th year.”
The young defender was rushed to the hospital immediately after the incident, with his brother revealing the dire news: “I learned that the doctor at the hospital said my brother had too much bleeding in his head. And that there was little hope of survival. The hospital was going to remove his tubes.”
At the time, the Beijing Football Association vowed to do everything they could to help Guo recover from his injuries.
In a statement, they said: “We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident. As long as there is even a glimmer of hope, we will not give up and will do everything we can for the follow-up work.”
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