Belgium international teammates Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois have paid tribute to Wolfsburg's Junior Malanda, who died yesterday in a car accident aged 20.
Malanda made 15 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit this campaign, while also being capped at Under-21s level by Belgium.
German police announced the news last night, revealing that the youngster was a passenger in a car which crashed on a motorway near the city of Bielefeld.
Many footballers took to Twitter to pay their respect to Malanda, with Lukaku saying: "I love you my brother. Junior, why you are my brother...my brother, one of my only and unique friends, I cannot believe you are not there anymore."
Courtois added: "RIP @JuniorMalanda!! We lose a huge talent and a great person!!"
Former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who linked up with Malanda this season at Wolfsburg, said: "So strange to hear your friend in the morning and then hear this news. Lost a great friend way too early. RIP my friend. You will always be around."
His last game was a 2-1 win over Cologne on 20 December.
