Ahmet Calik, who has played eight times for the Turkish national team, was alone in his vehicle when the horror unfolded.
He was said to have been driving on the Ankara-Nigde highway when he lost control of his car before it overturned in a roadside ditch at around 9 a.m. local time.
Reports from Turkey detailed that Calik was the only passenger in the vehicle on Tuesday morning and that he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Calik was on training leave and was traveling to Ankara to finalize plans for his wedding, which he was due to celebrate in February, according to Spor Arena.
An investigation is underway to determine what happened moments before the accident.
Calik, who recently represented the Turkish Super Lig Konyaspor team, is to be buried in Elmadağ cemetery after Tuesday’s funeral, Turkish outlet FotoMac reported.
In a tribute, they wrote: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our football player Ahmet Calik, who has won the love of our fans and our city since the first day of his arrival in Konyaspor.
“Condolences to all of us, especially to the family of our football player Ahmet Calik.”
According to Spor Arena, Konyaspor has asked the Turkish Football Association to postpone its match against Istanbul Basaksehir, which is due to take place on Saturday, January 15.
Calik lost control of her car before she made a career off-road and in a ditch next to Highway +6
Calik lost control of her car before she made a career off-road and in a ditch next to the freeway
Eyewitnesses immediately called emergency services but Calik was pronounced dead at the scene.
Former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski, who was Calik’s teammate at Galatasaray, tweeted: “I was so sad to hear the news, I’m in shock. Death doesn’t look right on you at all, my brother, may God grant rest to your soul in paradise.
Calik was born in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara in 1994 before spending his youth career playing for the local team Gençlerbirliği.
The defender quickly gained national recognition when he represented Turkey at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2013.
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