Tragic Loss of Young Soccer Talent

A promising 16-year-old player with the Red Bulls, Edder Smick Valencia, tragically passed away just days before he was set to officially join the team, as confirmed by the club on Tuesday.

Valencia lost his life in a car accident on Sunday in his home country of Colombia. Just after he was due to join the Red Bulls II development team, the vehicle he was in collided with a tanker truck.

According to reports, including one from El Tiempo, the accident occurred on Sunday morning when the tanker driver attempted a dangerous maneuver on busy roads meant for heavy cargo.

He was pronounced dead at the scene while traveling in a grey car. Local authorities are now looking into what led to the incident.

The Red Bulls expressed their condolences with a statement: “Our thoughts are with Edder’s family, friends, and teammates. He will rest in peace.”

Earlier this season, Valencia played against the NYRB U16 team and was looking forward to signing a contract with Red Bull in the coming days. He was also expected to represent Colombia in the under-17 national team at next year’s South American Championships.

Throughout his journey, Valencia played for various teams including Cortulua, Baranquila FC, Lacelekun Atlantico, and Academia Alemanapopayan (AAFP).

His father, Edder Valencia, shared with El Tiempo, “He was achieving nearly 80% of his goal. He was the top scorer for every team he played on, and was set to join the national team and travel to North America. It’s incredibly sad to lose my son at such a young age.”

The AAFP also released a statement honoring his memory: “We, along with his family, hold his memory dear at AAFP. He will forever be in our hearts.”

Reportedly, over 3,000 individuals attended Valencia’s wake in Guacéne, highlighting the impact he had on his community.