German club mourn death of 22 y/0 Luca Meixner, who was ‘found dead in his bed’

German football club SSV Reutlingen have announced the tragic death of their 22-year-old player Luca Meixner.

The midfielder, who broke into his boyhood club's first team in 2021, was reportedly found dead in his bed over the Christmas period.

The club mourned his death in a statement on Instagram on Monday, saying they were “deeply saddened and stunned” by his untimely death.

“Last weekend we received the terrible news that our player Luca Meixner passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 27 at the age of 22,” the statement began.

'The entire SSV family is deeply saddened and stunned. His teammates, all committees and employees mourn with Luca's grieving family and our thoughts are with his family, friends and companions.

“We ask that the privacy of Luca's family is respected at this difficult time.”

Meixner started his career in the youth teams of SSV and broke into the under-17 rankings in 2017. Four years later he would make his senior debut before going on to make 100 appearances for the side, scoring six goals.

Meixner played in Reutlingen's last game before the winter break on December 7. He started the match and played 87 minutes in the 1–1 draw.

The team plays in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg, Germany's fifth tier, and has done so for the past nine seasons. Clubs from across the German pyramid sent their condolences to the club and Meixner's family.

Sonnenhof Grossaspach, a fellow club from the fifth division, wrote: 'Our sincere condolences and much strength in these difficult times.'

Goppinger SV added: 'Good luck to the entire club.'

His cause of death has not been confirmed.