Sheffield United star Rhian Brewster’s cousin, 17, suddenly collapsed and died after ‘an innocuous tackle’ during a football match on Wednesday, his manager has revealed.
Brewster poignantly pointed to the sky after scoring last night in tribute to the teenager’s tragic death just hours before.
Kaylen Dennis, an under-23 player for Walthamstow Football Club from north London, passed away during a match at Barnet College on Wednesday afternoon.
The teenager – who some have described as having ‘unbelievable talent’ – was playing a scheduled college game shortly after 12pm when he went down on a tackle and stopped breathing.
Speaking to MailOnline, Jason Geraghty, manager of Walthamstow FC U-23s and a former professional who played for West Ham, said Kaylen was ‘like my own son’ and ‘an exceptional young man.’
He revealed he was still processing the shock of the youngster’s death, having been called yesterday by his close friend and Kaylen’s father, Kevin, who formerly played for Arsenal.
Mr Geraghty said: ‘Kaylen was playing at Barnet College on Wednesday – it was just an innocuous tackle and he went down. We don’t know what happened.
‘He had been a bit unwell for a few weeks, but was still able to play.
Football star Rhian Brewster’s cousin, 17, suddenly collapsed and died after ‘an innocuous tackle’ during a football match on Wednesday, his manager has revealed
Kaylen’s cousin – Sheffield United player Rhian Brewster – was spotted last night poignantly pointing to the sky during his match against Milwall
Kaylen is also a cousin of Spurs Women’s player Araya Dennis, who looked emotional after soring her first goal for the club last night against Crystal Palace
Araya (number 30) is congratulated by her team mates after the goal, which gave Spurs a 2-0 lead
‘I got a call from his dad just after 12pm that he had gone down on a tackle and was not breathing.
‘He was then pronounced dead at 12.24pm. We think he died immediately.’
Mr Geraghty said his son and Kaylen were good friends, having signed up for Ryan FC, a team for youngsters that acts as a feeder team for Walthamstow FC, and had seen him develop over the years.
‘We won the league last year and Kaylen was the top scorer in the league. They were that good that even though they are 16 and 17, I put them into the under-23 league and created Walthamstow FC’s U-23s.
‘Kaylen was by far our best player. He was the best forward at my club.
‘I can’t speak highly enough of him. Kaylen was like my own son. He was an exceptional young man and always smiling.’
He said the promising teenager was ‘from a real footballing family’.
Kaylen’s cousin is Sheffield United player Rhian Brewster, who pointed his right finger up to the sky in a moving gesture as he scored the first goal against Millwall at The Den during a Sky Bet Championship match just hours after the tragedy.
Kaylen’s father, Kevin, began his career in the academy at Premier League club Arsenal, before signing as a left winger for Brentford during the late 1990s
The promising teenager was ‘from a real footballing family’. Pictured: Kaylen’s father Kevin during his days with Arsenal in the 1995/96 season
Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield after the match, which ended 1-0 to the Blades, said of his ‘bittersweet’ goal: ‘I want to dedicate that goal to my younger cousin.
‘He passed away earlier today before the game, so that’s one for him and the family.
‘It was a very tough time [for the family], but I played for him today, and I was very happy to come away with a goal, and that’s for him.’
Kaylen is also a cousin of Spurs Women’s player Araya Dennis, who scored her first goal for the club last night against Crystal Palace.
Footage from the match shows her looking emotional after ploughing the ball into the back of the net.
Kaylen’s father, Kevin, began his career in the academy at Premier League club Arsenal, before signing as a left winger for Brentford during the late 1990s.
Prior to his signing, he was convicted in 1994 of manslaughter with his brother, after they stabbed 23-year-old Simon Geary to death in Highbury, north London.
In 2001, he was also found guilty of the 1999 murder of 23-year-old Batatunde Oba in a fight at a nightspot.
Walthamstow FC said it was ‘devastated’ to learn that Kaylen had died during a match
This morning, Walthamstow FC posted a statement on X and said it was ‘devastated’ at the news.
The club said: ‘We are devastated to learn of the passing away of one of our U23 players, Kaylen Dennis during a game.
‘We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, teammates and everyone that knew him.’
In an X tribute, Scott Chickelday – who according to his LinkedIn profile is a UEFA licensed coach formally of Tottenham and QPR academy – described the youngster as ‘a talented footballer’ who was also ‘a great character and person.’
He said: ‘Heartbreaking to hear yesterday that a 17-year-old boy I had the pleasure of knowing with an unbelievable talent passed away on the football pitch yesterday, Kaylen Dennis was not just a talented footballer but was a great character and person!
‘I am absolutely devastated for his parents – good friend of mine Kevin and Kaylen’s mum Natasha.
‘God bless Kaylen fly high champ.’
Walthamstow Reserves FC described Kaylen as ‘a kid with the brightest future’.
Scott Chickelday – who according to his LinkedIn profile is a UEFA licensed coach formally of Tottenham and QPR academy – described the youngster as ‘a talented footballer’
Billy Cove posted a tribute to to ‘one of the brightest talents around’
The youngster began playing for Ryan FC four years ago, according to a posted tribute
A statement said: ‘Words cannot describe how we feel about this news today.
‘A kid with the brightest future, beyond being a talented young footballer, he was a blessed young man.
‘Our football family will gather around his family during this difficult time.
‘Rest in perfect peace Kaylen Dennis.’
Hashtag United, a team in the regional isthmian league, recalled how ‘Kaylen scored a screamer against our reserve team just a few weeks ago’.
They added: ‘Hearing this news now is beyond sad.
‘Everyone at Hashtag would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Kaylen’s family, friends & everyone at Walthamstow .’
Among the many personal tributes being left, one described Kaylen as ‘great kid, great talent, so well mannered and respectful, always had a smile on his face.’
Ryan FC, which runs more than 30 teams from under-6s to seniors, revealed that Kaylen had begun playing for them four years ago.
In a statement, they said: ‘We are so upset and devastated at Ryan FC who Kaylen started playing for at 13 and watched him progress into senior football playing for our partner club Walthamstow FC.
‘His parents Kevin and Natasha have been so supportive and all our thoughts are with them and their family.’
