Former Arsenal prospect Billy Vigar has died aged 21.
The forward, who was playing for non-league Chichester City, was placed into an induced coma after an incident during their Isthmian League Premier Division clash on Saturday.
Vigar joined Arsenal’s academy aged 14 and left in 2022GettyChichester confirmed that Vigar suffered a ‘significant brain injury’ and was subsequently placed into an induced coma.
It was then announced by the non-league club on Thursday that Vigar has tragically passed away.
A statement from Vigar’s family read: “After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put into an induced coma.
“On Tuesday he needed an operation to aid any chances of recovery. Although this helped, the injury proved too much for him and he passed away on Thursday (25th) morning.
“The responses to the original update show how much Billy was thought of and loved within the sport.
“His family are devastated that this has happened whilst he was playing the sport that he loved.”
The incident happened in the 13th minute of Chichester’s match against Wingate and Finchley on 20 September and the fixture was subsequently abandoned.
The details of what happened in the incident have not been confirmed.
Vigar came through the Arsenal academy, progressing from the under-18s to the verge of the first team with the under-21s.
Vigar experienced loan spells at Derby County and non-league club Eastbourne Borough before leaving Arsenal permanently in 2024.
The tragic news of Vigar’s passing was announced on WednesdayGettyHaving initially joined Hastings United, Vigar later joined Chichester, a team he played for four times this season, scoring one goal.
He signed his first professional contract with the Gunners in 2022.
At an announcement alongside academy director Per Mertesacker, he said: “I’m absolutely delighted to sign my contract and I feel honoured to be in this position.
“I can’t wait to push forward and see what I can achieve at this club and hopefully go further and get the best out of what I can do.
“The main goal for everyone is to push forward to the first team so I just hope for the best and to develop and get there.”
He continued: “I came into the academy game slightly later than other people so Arsenal is the only academy I’ve been at and they’ve always supported me and given me everything I needed.
“When I got offered the professional contract there was no doubt I was going to sign it.”
Crediting his family’s role, he said: “Without my mum and dad I wouldn’t be here today.
“I live a long way away and I’d be leaving school and they’d have to leave work early and take me two hours to training, sit and watch me and then take me all the way back home.
“They had to do that four times a week so without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
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