Young player Kenzo Kies has passed away after being declared brain dead since Monday afternoon, following a drowning incident in the Rhône. The news was confirmed this Wednesday by his former club, AS Saint-Étienne, which paid tribute to its former academy player. The club reacted on X, mentioning the loss of a player who trained at the Robert-Herbin sports center for several years. “The Green Generation is in mourning,” wrote AS Saint-Etienne, adding, “A resident of the Robert-Herbin Sports Center for seven years, a talented player and a quiet young man appreciated by all, Kenzo Kies lost his life in tragic circumstances.”
In the same vein, En Avant Guingamp, where the player recently played, also released an official statement. The Breton club expressed its sadness over the loss of its former player, who joined last summer and was part of the reserve team. “En Avant Guingamp is heartbroken to learn of the death of Kenzo Kies, a young player of the Club. A Guingampais since last summer, he was playing this season with the reserve team. En Avant Guingamp extends its sincerest condolences to the family of Kenzo Kies and to all his loved ones, offering them its full support during this painful time.”
The tragedy occurred Monday evening, in a swimming area of the Rhône, between Villeurbanne and Caluire-et-Cuire, near Lyon. As temperatures reached around 38°C, four young men were swimming in a notoriously dangerous area due to currents and waves. Firefighters intervened around 6 PM. Three of the young men managed to reach the shore before help arrived, while Kenzo Kies was drowning. Rescued in critical condition, he was taken to the hospital, where his condition was deemed critical before evolving to brain death.
Born in Lyon on January 20, 2005, Kenzo Kies followed a structured training path at several clubs in the Lyon region. He started at AS Bron at the age of four, before moving to FC Lyon and then joining the Olympique Lyonnais training center from 2011 to 2017. He then joined AS Saint-Priest, before moving to AS Saint-Étienne in the U14 category, where he continued his development until his departure in 2025 for En Avant Guingamp, a Ligue 2 club. Despite limited playing time this season, he was seen as a developing player.
AS Saint-Priest, the player’s former club, also reacted on social media Tuesday, expressing deep emotion after the accident. The club stated it learned the news with sadness and extended its support to the family and loved ones of the young footballer, in a context marked by strong emotions within his former clubs and his sporting circle.
🚨 Kenzo Kies has passed away at the age of 21, announces AS Saint-Étienne. 🕊️
He was a victim of drowning in the Rhône, this Monday evening. pic.twitter.com/Ai87iw1eK2
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) June 24, 2026
