Luke Fleurs, a defender for South African power Kaizer Chiefs, was killed in a carjacking in Johannesburg, the club announced in a statement on Thursday.
“We are profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic and untimely passing of one of our players, Luke Fleurs,” the club said.
“The 24-year-old former youth international lost his life after being shot during a hijacking on Wednesday evening in Johannesburg. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to gunshot wounds.”
Police said the incident took place at a gas station, and no arrests had yet been made.
“While waiting to be served by the petrol attendant, he was confronted by two armed males,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told reporters.
“The suspects pointed him with a firearm and took him out of his vehicle, then shot him once on the upper body.”
Fleurs moved to Kaizer Chiefs as a free agent in October, joining from SuperSport United. He had yet to make an appearance for the Premier Soccer League club.
He represented South Africa at various youth levels, and played for the country’s U-23 team at the Olympics in Japan in 2021. The defender also received one senior national team call-up in 2021, but did not make an appearance.