Three men arrested after suspected murder of non-league footballer

Three men have been arrested after the death of a "talented" and "inspirational" non-league footballer.

Ezekiel Williams, 26, from London, was allegedly assaulted in Milton Keynes city centre in the early hours of Sunday morning, Thames Valley Police said.

Detectives launched a murder investigation after Mr Williams died in hospital from his injuries on Monday.

Two men, aged 21 and 28, both from Luton, have since been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Another 30-year-old man from Luton has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and all three remain in police custody.

Mr Williams last played as a midfielder for Hendon FC in north west London, joining the club in September.

It described him as a "humble, unassuming and generous individual with a razor-sharp wit".

The club added: "He quickly established himself as a highly popular member of the dressing room and was beginning to carve a place for himself in midfield with a series of hard-working and selfless displays that summed him up as a person.

"Only 10 days ago, he scored his first goal for the club against Jersey Bulls."

Mr Williams also played for Kettering Town FC - which described him as a "talented, kind, and a truly inspirational individual" - FC Romania, Northwood, and Harrow Borough during his footballing career.

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A GoFundMe page has since been set up in his memory, which has raised over £14,000 as of Wednesday evening.

Detective Inspector Rob Underhill said: "We are carrying out a thorough and extensive investigation to establish exactly what happened.

"We recognise this incident will cause concern within the local community. There will continue to be an increased police presence in and around The Hub and Milton Keynes city centre over the coming days, and I would encourage anybody with concerns to speak with our officers."

(c) Sky News 2026: Three men arrested after suspected murder of non-league footballer