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Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Ajax
Daniel Marland
Former Ajax winger Jody Lukoki has died at the age of 29.
Sources close to the Congo DR international confirmed the tragic news on Monday and the cause of death is currently unknown.
Lukoki was last contracted to FC Twente and he was recovering from a cruciate ligament injury when the news broke.
He made his Ajax debut in 2011 and would go on to make 39 appearances for the Dutch giants.
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During that time Lukoki managed to win three Eredivise titles, but he failed to nail down a regular starting spot.
Lukoki spent a season on loan at newly-promoted Cambuur in 2013 before moving to PEC Zwolle permanently a year later.
After that, he'd spent time in Bulgaria with Ludogorets and win four league titles on the bounce.
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2020 would see Lukoki move to Turkish outfit Malatya Belediyespor before moving back to the Netherlands with Twente last year. His contract was dissolved in February after allegedly abusing his girlfriend, per NOS.
Twente technical director Jan Streur said in a statement: "It is unbelievable. At this young age. So sad.
"This is really terrible. We sympathise with his family and friends.”
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PEC Zwolle also paid tribute to their former winger with a message of: "PEC Zwolle has learned with dismay and sadness of the far too early death of former player Jody Lukoki. Lukoki will forever be remembered as PEC Zwolle's first goalscorer in an official European game.
"PEC Zwolle wishes the relatives of Jody Lukoki a lot of strength to bear this enormous loss."
While Malatya Belediyespor said on Twitter: "We learned with sadness the news that Jody Lukoki, who sweated our club's jersey in the 2020 - 2021 Super League season, passed away.
"Our condolences to his family and community."
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Lukoki represented the Netherlands at youth level but switched allegiances in 2015. He made three appearances for Congo DR.