Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has tragically passed away at the age of 31.
Baldock, an England-born Greece international, was found unresponsive in the swimming pool of his home in Glyfada, southern Athens. Despite efforts by police to resuscitate him at the scene, he could not be revived, and emergency medical services later confirmed his death, according to a Reuters report citing a police official.
Baldock had joined the Greek club Panathinaikos this summer after spending seven years with Sheffield United.
In a statement, his family expressed their grief: "We can confirm that George has sadly passed away. As a family, we are in shock at this terrible loss."
Panathinaikos also paid tribute to Baldock, stating: "We are devastated by the loss of our George. The Panathinaikos family mourns his untimely death. We stand in solidarity with his family and loved ones during this difficult time."
Sheffield United echoed the sentiment, saying: "George left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane, where he was greatly admired by supporters, staff, and teammates alike. The thoughts and condolences of everyone at Sheffield United go out to George’s family and friends."
During his brief time at Panathinaikos, Baldock made four appearances and had recently started in their goalless match against Olympiakos. He earned 12 caps for Greece, qualifying to play for the national team through his grandmother. Although not selected for Greece's upcoming Nations League match against England, his contributions to the national team were fondly remembered.
In a statement, the Greece national team said: "With deep sorrow, we say farewell to George Baldock. Words cannot capture the pain of this unexpected loss. Our thoughts are with his family during this time of mourning."
Baldock began his professional career with MK Dons in 2009, where he made over 100 appearances. He had loan spells with several clubs, including Northampton and Oxford United, before joining Sheffield United in 2017. Over the course of 219 appearances for the Blades, he played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League in both 2019 and 2023.
Although born in Buckingham, Baldock chose to represent Greece at the international level in May 2022, making his debut the following month in a 1-0 victory against Northern Ireland.
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