Sheffield United to honor George Baldock with tribute following 'tough' week

Baldock tragically passed away last Wednesday night after he drowned while swimming in the pool at his residence in Athens.

The 31-year-old played more than 200 times for Sheffield United, helping the club achieve two promotions to the Premier League, before joining Greek club Panathinaikos this summer.

Less than 24 hours after his tragic passing, a moving tribute was paid when Greece, who Baldock represented 12 times between 2022 and 2024, played England at Wembley.

And the full-back’s former club side will now have their chance to pay their respects when they return to action against Leeds at Elland Road.

‘Tonight at Elland Road, we’ll be honouring the memory of George Baldock,’ Sheffield United confirmed on social media.

‘Both teams will wear black armbands, and a minute’s silence will be observed to pay our respects. Representatives from both clubs will also lay flowers as a tribute.’

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, who brought Baldock to the Yorkshire club after working with him at Oxford United, said he was still finding it hard to process the news.

‘It’s been really difficult,’ Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield when asked about the last week since Baldock’s passing. ‘It puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it?

‘We’re in the industry of football, we’re football people, but there’s something miles bigger than the game of football on Friday.

‘I’m having to talk about the game, and having to talk about the sad passing of a player that meant so much to everybody here at Sheffield United.

‘Everybody admired how he went about his business, how his career went from where it did to being an international footballer, and just his general personality around the place, that we all got to know and love.’

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