French footballer Wanis Honsor has died aged 22 after suffering a cardiac arrest during a training session with his club, Saint-Denis FC, on the island of Réunion on Wednesday morning.

Saint-Denis FC, who play in the Réunion Premier League, announced the death of their player with what the club described as immense sadness and profound sorrow. Medical teams attended the scene and tried to resuscitate him, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Honsor had only recently married and was on the eve of his 23rd birthday, according to a tribute from the Réunion Football League.

Tributes pour in from Rouen

Honsor came through the academy at FC Rouen 1899 in Normandy, where he spent several years developing as a young player before breaking into the club's first team.

FC Rouen confirmed the news in a statement on Wednesday, saying the club had learned with great sadness of the sudden death of its former academy player. The club offered its sincere condolences to his family and those close to him.

During the 2023-24 season, Honsor made three appearances for Rouen's first team in French competition and scored a memorable goal at the club's home ground, Stade Diochon.

A move to Réunion cut short

Honsor joined Saint-Denis FC earlier this year and was playing as a left-back for the senior side on the French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean.

The Réunion Football League said it would provide all necessary support to return Honsor's body to mainland France, in line with his family's wishes, and paid tribute to a young man who had his entire life ahead of him.