• Source:JND
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Billy Vigar, the former Arsenal youth player, passed away at the age of 21 after sustaining a brain injury during a match that he was playing for Chichester City.

The English footballer was put into an induced coma before requiring surgery on Tuesday. However, the injury proved too severe, and the youngster took his final breath on Thursday. "We are shocked that this happened while Vigar was doing the sport he loved. He suffered severe brain damage last Saturday, was placed in an induced coma and underwent surgery on Tuesday. Although that helped, the injury proved too much for him," a statement from the club read.

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"The response to the original update shows how much Billy was thought of and loved within the sport. His Family are devastated that this happened whilst playing the sport he loved," the statement added.

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Vigar reportedly sustained the injury as he collided with a concrete wall during the East Midlands League fixture between Chichester City and Wingate & Finchley in the seventh tier of English football.

His former club, Arsenal, shared an update that read, "Everyone at Arsenal is devastated by the shocking news that former academy graduate Billy Vigar has passed away. All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time. Rest in peace, Billy".

Derby County, where Vigar spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan from Arsenal, posted an update that read, "All at Derby County are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Vigar. Billy spent the second half of the 2022/23 season with the Academy on loan from Arsenal, making several appearances for the Under-21s. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

Notably, Vigar was born in 2003 in Worthing, West Sussex in England. He first grabbed the limelight when he joined Arsenal's youth academy at the age of 14. He then progressed through the ranks within Arsenal's youth setup and ended up playing at the U18 and U21 levels as well. A big moment came in his career in 2022 when he signed a professional contract with Arsenal. However, he couldn't make it to the first team in the Premier League with Mikel Arteta as manager.

He was loaned out to Derby County Under-21s in the second half of the 2022-23 season. Having left Arsenal in 2021, he signed for Hastings United.

The summer of 2025 saw him join Chichester City, playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division, which is the seventh tier of English football.