Death of Dutch footballer Jody Lukoki (29)

The Dutch footballer Jody Lukoki died at the age of 29, the player’s entourage said on Monday. The causes of his death are not yet known.

Trained at Ajax Amsterdam, Jody Lukoki started with the Ajacide first team in 2011. On loan at Cambuur in 2013-2014, he left Ajax in 2014 and played for PEC Zwolle, Ludogorets in Bulgaria and Yeni Malatyaspor in Turkey. He returned to the Netherlands last year, signing for FC Twente. The Tukkers, however, terminated the player’s contract, which ran until 2023, after Lukoki was convicted of domestic abuse. He had been training individually ever since, after a knee injury.

Dutch champion with Ajax in 2011, 2012 and 2013, Lukoki was also Bulgarian champion with Ludogorets in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, a club with which he also lifted the Bulgarian Cup in 2017 and participated in the Champions League.

Dutch international in youth teams, Jody Lukoki, who had dual Dutch-Congolese nationality, opted for the DR Congo in the first team. He has three selections with the Leopards.