Junior Malanda: Wolfsburg's 20-year-old midfielder dies in car crash en route to airport

Wolfsburg midfielder Junior Malanda has died following a car crash in Germany on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Belgian U21 midfielder was a passenger in the car and was traveling to the airport to meet his teammates ahead of a training trip to South Africa with the Bundesliga club.

Malanda, who joined Wolfsburg in 2013, had made 15 appearances for the club this season, and was touted to be a future star by the manager.

The German club's sporting director Klaus Allofs has conveyed his thoughts and prayers to the player's family.

"We are all deeply saddened and our disbelief can hardly be put into words. We can't believe he is no longer with us. Our thoughts at this difficult time are with his family and loved ones," Klaus said in a statement, as quoted by the BBC.

"He was the good spirit of our team and a fun-loving person. In addition, Junior was an excellent football player who was only at the very beginning of his development," the Wolfsburg sporting director added.

Tributes for the young midfielder have poured in from across Europe from fellow teammates and compatriots, who are deeply saddened by his passing.