A highly rated young footballer has died in a car crash in Colombia just days before he was reportedly due to sign for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.
Eder Smic Valencia, 16, lost his life on Sunday morning while on holiday in Guachene, near Cali, with reports claiming the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision with a tanker truck.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
Valencia had been tipped for a bright future in the game, with the teenage striker impressing at the Under-16 Bulls Cup in February and reportedly preparing to fly to the United States this week to complete a move to the Red Bulls.
The teenager was also expected to represent Colombia’s Under-17 national team at the 2026 South American Championship, with his progress carefully monitored by coaches in his homeland as well as scouts overseas.
His death was confirmed by his club, Academia Alemana Popayán (AAFP), which has a long-standing reputation for producing players capable of making the step into professional football.
Eder Smic Valencia, 16, lost his life on Sunday morning while on holiday in Guachene, near Cali
The teenage star was reportedly due to sign for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls
A statement from the club said: ‘It is with deep sorrow that we report the passing of our player Eder Smic Valencia Ambuila in a car accident while on vacation in Guachene.
‘We are supporting his family and we will honour his memory here at AAFP. He will forever be in our hearts.’
The tragedy has left Valencia’s family, team-mates and coaches devastated, with his dream move to Major League Soccer and an international career cruelly cut short as tributes pour in for a striker widely tipped for stardom.
