Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has tragically passed away at the age of 31.
The England-born player, who represented Greece internationally, was found unresponsive in the swimming pool of his home in Glyfada, located in southern Athens. Authorities attempted to revive him on the scene, but despite their efforts, Baldock could not be renewed. Emergency medical teams later confirmed his death, according to reports from Reuters.
Baldock had signed with Greek club Panathinaikos over the summer after spending seven years at Sheffield United.
In a statement, his family expressed their shock and grief, saying, "We can confirm that George has sadly passed away. As a family, we are in shock at this terrible loss."
Panathinaikos also shared their condolences, stating, "We are deeply shocked by the loss of our George. The Panathinaikos family mourns his untimely death. We stand with his family and loved ones during this difficult time."
Sheffield United expressed their sadness over the news, noting, "George left the club this summer after seven years at Bramall Lane. He was extremely popular with supporters, staff, and teammates wearing red and white shirts alongside him. Our deepest condolences go out to George’s family and friends."
Baldock had made four appearances for Panathinaikos, most recently starting in their goalless match against Olympiakos. He was capped 12 times by Greece, a country he qualified to represent through his grandmother. Although Greece is set to play England in the Nations League on Thursday, Baldock was not selected for that match.
In their statement, the Greece national team expressed their sorrow: "With profound sadness, the national team and the Greek Football Federation bid farewell to George Baldock. There are no words to describe the pain caused by the sudden loss of such a young man. We extend our condolences to his family—his second family also mourns."
Baldock began his professional career at MK Dons in 2009, making over 100 appearances for the club. He also had loan spells at Northampton and Oxford United before joining Sheffield United in 2017, where he played 219 matches in all competitions and helped the team secure promotion to the Premier League in 2019 and again in 2023.
Born in Buckingham, Baldock chose to represent Greece in May 2022, earning his first call-up under manager Gus Poyet. He debuted for the national team in June, playing in a 1-0 victory against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.
