Former FC Cincinnati player Aaron Boupendza, a Gabonese forward, tragically passed away at the age of 28 after falling from an 11th-floor building in China, as confirmed by the Gabonese soccer federation. Boupendza joined FC Cincinnati in 2023 for $7 million, scoring seven goals in 24 games before his contract was terminated in 2024. Following his time in Cincinnati, he played for Rapid București in Romania and later for Zhejiang FC in China, where he scored four goals in six matches.
The Gabonese president, Brice Oligui Nguema, extended his condolences to Boupendza's family and friends, recognizing him as a talented athlete and a cherished individual. Born in 1996, Boupendza had a successful career spanning across various leagues and also represented the Gabon national team. Some of his notable achievements include winning league titles with CF Mounana in 2015, being the top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with Hatayspor in 2020-2021, and clinching the Qatar FA Cup with Al Arabi in 2022, in addition to his contribution to FC Cincinnati's 2023 Supporters' Shield victory.