Former Premier League star Kevin Campbell has passed away at the age of 54

Kevin Campbell, a former Arsenal player, has passed away at the age of 54 after a brief illness, according to an announcement from the Premier League club on Saturday.

The announcement of his passing follows reports from nearly two weeks ago that he was hospitalized. It appears that Campbell suffered a stroke and was also experiencing kidney issues.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Campbell played 228 matches for Arsenal, earning titles in the English First Division (now the Premier League), the FA Cup, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup with the North London team.

In 1995, Campbell left Arsenal to play for Nottingham Forest, and after three seasons, he moved to Trabzonspor. Although his previous tenures were successful, his time in Turkey was challenging due to racial abuse from the team’s chairman, leading to his return to England with Everton.

Campbell played over 150 games in total for Everton and later had brief periods with West Brom and Cardiff, ending his playing career in 2007. He then moved into broadcasting, where he became as beloved a pundit as he was a striker, known for his charismatic personality and sense of humor.

Campbell also made history as the first Black player to captain Everton in 2001.