The grieving family of George Baldock have confirmed the ex-Premier League footballer’s death at the age of 31 and say they are in ‘shock’ at the ‘terrible loss’.
The former Sheffield United star was found unresponsive in his swimming pool at his home in Greece on Wednesday evening.
The defender left English football to sign for Greek giants Panathinaikos in the summer.
Greek outlets Sport24 and SDNA report that Baldock’s wife tried repeatedly to reach him after no contact for several hours. Contact was then made with the owner of the villa where the footballer lived in Glyfada, southern Athens.
After searching the property, Baldock was found in the pool of the suburban home and his family have now released a brief statement following the tragic news.
‘We can confirm that George has sadly passed away,’ it read.
‘As a family we are in shock at this terrible loss. We ask please that the media respect our privacy at this time.’
Shortly after the news broke, the Twitter pages of the Greek national team and Baldock’s club Panathinaikos went dark, with the latter posting: ‘The Panathinaikos family mourns the untimely death of our club’s footballer, George Baldock, who passed away at the age of 31.
‘KAE Panathinaikos AKTOR expresses its pain and sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.’
Meanwhile, a statement from the Greek Super League read: ‘The entire Super League football family expresses its deep sorrow for the untimely loss of Panathinaikos and our national team footballer, George Baldock, and extends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.’
Baldock represented Panathinaikos as recently as Sunday, playing 75 minutes of the side’s goalless draw with Olympiakos in the Greek top flight.
The right-back spent seven years on the books of Sheffield United, making 219 appearances for the Blades between 2017 and March of this year.
He twice helped the Bramall Lane outfit secure promotion to the Premier League and was nicknamed ‘Furious George’ for all his all-action displays on the pitch.
A statement from Sheffield United said: ‘Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock.
‘The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.
‘The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.’
After starting his career at MK Dons, he also played for Northampton Town, Tamworth and Oxford United.
While raised in England, Baldock also won 12 caps for Greece, eligible to represent the country through his maternal grandmother.
Greece are in action against England at Wembley on Thursday evening. Baldock was not part of the Greek squad for October’s international games.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, once of Sheffield United, was among those to pay tribute to Baldock on Wednesday night.
The England international shared a picture of the former Blade with the message ‘RIP’.
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