Former MLS striker dies at 28 after falling from building in China

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Aaron Boupendza, a forward who spent parts of the previous two MLS seasons with Cincinnati FC, has died after falling from a balcony on Wednesday at a residential building in China, according to that country’s Xinhua News Agency. Boupendza was 28.

A native of Gabon, Boupendza was most recently playing for China’s Zhejiang Professional Football Club, which expressed its “deepest condolences” to his family. The Gabonese Football Federation said in a statement Wednesday that Boupendza fell from the 11th floor of the building.

The incident took place around 1 p.m. in Hangzhou, China, where Zhejiang is based, according to Xinhua. The state-run news agency quoted a local police bureau as saying that foul play had been “ruled out.” Police were said to have used video analysis and on-site interviews to determine that Boupendza fell from a balcony.

“We are saddened to hear of the tragic passing of former FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza earlier today at his home in China,” the MLS team said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. He was a loved member of the FC Cincinnati family, and we offer our condolences to all who knew him. Rest in Peace, Aaron.”

Signed by Cincinnati in 2023 as a Designated Player, Boupendza arrived in MLS with a reputation as an emerging goal scorer, a quality the team hoped would help fill the void left by Brazilian forward Brenner’s $10 million transfer to top Italy side Udinese. Boupendza, whose transfer from Saudi Pro League side al-Shabab FC required a $7 million fee, delivered right away with five goals in 10 matches as Cincinnati won its first Supporters’ Shield. He went on to add another goal and an assist over four playoff games.

That initial success engendered high hopes for Boupendza entering the 2024 MLS season, but his production slumped amid some off-field issues, including a broken jaw reportedly suffered in a fight outside a Cincinnati tavern. Boupendza’s MLS contract was terminated in August, after which he latched on with Romanian side Rapid Bucharest before joining Zhejiang.

Gabon’s federation praised Boupendza as a great striker who made his mark on behalf of his country at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, staged in Cameroon. The federation noted that he began his soccer career in that country with CF Mounana before continuing his development in France with FC des Girondins de Bordeaux. Boupendza also played for a few other French sides, was loaned to Portugal’s C.D. Feirense and eventually transferred to Hatayspor in Turkey’s top league, which he led with 22 goals in the 2020-21 season.

Boupendza at that point began to command significant transfer fees (per Transfermarkt), had a 2021-22 stint with Al-Arabi in Qatar, then spent the next season in Saudi Arabia with al-Shabab.

“All our thoughts go out to his family, his loved ones and the entire football family,” Bordeaux said in a statement.