German football club SSV Reutlingen has confirmed the tragic death of 22-year-old player Luca Meixner.
The midfielder, who made his debut for his boyhood club in 2021, was reportedly found dead in his bed two days after Christmas.
The club expressed its sorrow in a statement shared on Instagram on January 6, stating they were “deeply saddened and stunned” by his sudden passing.
“Last weekend we received the terrible news that our player Luca Meixner died unexpectedly on Friday, December 27th at the age of 22,” the statement read.
The team extended its condolences to Meixner’s family and loved ones, saying, “The entire SSV family is deeply saddened and stunned. His teammates, all committees and employees mourn with Luca’s bereaved family, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and companions.”
The club also requested privacy for the grieving family during this difficult time. Meixner began his career with SSV Reutlingen’s youth teams, advancing to the under-17 ranks in 2017. By 2021, he had made his senior debut and went on to make 100 appearances, scoring six goals.
He was part of the squad for Reutlingen’s final match before the winter break, a 1-1 draw on December 7, where he started and played 87 minutes. The news of his sudden passing has left the club and its community in shock and mourning.