Arsenal soccer academy alum Billy Vigar dies at 21 from brain injury

September 26 (UPI) – Former Arsenal Academy Billy Vigar died after having undergone a brain injury while she was playing for the chichester City FC, the British seventh level football club announced. He was 21 years old.

“Rest in the Billy rhythm,” said Chichester City on Thursday. “Forever in everyone’s heart at the Chichester City Football Club.”

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Vigar suffered the injury when he struck a concrete wall while pursuing a ball in a leading division match in the Isthmian League against Wingate & Finchley on Saturday in Finchley, a district northern London.

Doctors rushed to the region to help Vigar, which was transported to hospital. The match was abandoned after only 13 minutes. He was placed in an induced coma and was operated on Tuesday, but died two days later.

“After undergoing significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was placed in an induced coma,” said Chichester City. “On Tuesday, he needed an operation to help the chances of recovery. Although it helped, the injury turned out to be too much for him and died on Thursday morning.

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“The answers to the original update show how much Billy was and loved with sport. His family is devastated that it happened while he was doing the sport he loved.”

The Lillywhites (3-2-2), which occupy 10th place in the Isthmian League classification, also postponed their next match, which was to have been played on Saturday against seventh place Lewes FC.

Vigar joined Arsenal’s Academy at 14. The Gunners spotted the striker of his hometown club, Hove Rivervale FC. He obtained a scholarship in 2020 and joined the Gunners full time in 2020-2021. He then represented the Gunners in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy Competition.

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Vigar also played on loan for Derby County and Eastbourne Borough. He joined Hastings United in 2024 before signing with Chichester in August.

“In addition to his important talent, Billy will be remembered for his love of the game, the pride of representing our football club – he called once the day he was spotted by our scouts as” the most important of his life ” – and a loved character of teammates and coaches,” the Gunners told arsenal.com.

“Our biggest condolences go to the Vigar family and their many friends at this extremely difficult moment.”