Police update: Šeško was pronounced dead at the scene from catastrophic injuries; officers are investigating the lorry driver for suspected drink-driving.
By Marcus Hale, Senior Football Correspondent
London, 8 November 2025 – Tragedy struck the football world this afternoon when Manchester United striker Benjamin Šeško was killed in a horrific road collision in North London, barely an hour after helping his side salvage a dramatic 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 22-year-old Slovenian international was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics following a head-on crash with a heavy goods lorry on the A10 near Bruce Grove. Metropolitan Police have confirmed the lorry driver, a 44-year-old man from Enfield, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of alcohol.
The accident occurred at approximately 16:32 GMT, according to dash-cam footage recovered from a nearby bus. Witnesses described a white Scania articulated lorry veering across the central reservation at high speed before colliding with Šeško’s black Audi RS Q8, which was travelling in the opposite direction towards his temporary residence in Wood Green. The impact was so severe that both vehicles were engulfed in flames within seconds. Fire crews from Tottenham and Edmonton stations took 42 minutes to extinguish the blaze and extricate the driver, but Šeško was declared dead on arrival of the London Ambulance Service critical-care team at 16:47.
Šeško had played 78 minutes of the early-evening Premier League fixture, which kicked off at 15:00 GMT under floodlights due to fading winter daylight. The match itself had been a rollercoaster: Tottenham took the lead through Brennan Johnson in the 19th minute, only for Bruno Fernandes to equalise from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after a VAR review. The hosts regained the advantage via Pedro Porro’s deflected 25-yard strike in the 62nd minute, but United refused to fold. In the 78th minute – the exact moment Šeško was later substituted – the striker produced a moment of brilliance: meeting a whipped Joshua Zirkzee cross with a thunderous first-time volley that arrowed into the top corner past Guglielmo Vicario. The goal, his 12th in 15 appearances this season, sent the 4,200 travelling United fans into delirium and appeared to seal all three points.
Manager Ruben Amorim, in his post-match press conference still unaware of the tragedy unfolding miles away, praised the Slovenian’s “predatory instinct” and confirmed he had withdrawn him as a precaution after he felt tightness in his hamstring during the celebration. “Benji said he was fine, but we have a big week ahead,” Amorim told reporters. “We didn’t want to risk him for the Conference League on Thursday.” Šeško left the stadium at 15:58 GMT in his club-issue Audi, waving to supporters gathered at the players’ exit. CCTV shows him stopping briefly at a Shell garage on Tottenham High Road for a bottle of water before continuing north on the A10.
The lorry driver, identified by police sources as Darren M., had earlier that afternoon made a delivery to a builders’ merchant in Edmonton. Colleagues told The Standard he had been complaining of feeling “rough” after a late-night karaoke session in Soho. Breathalyser tests administered at the scene allegedly returned a reading of 92 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the legal limit of 35. Blood samples have been sent for independent analysis, and the driver remains in custody at Tottenham Police Station. The A10 was closed in both directions until 22:00, causing gridlock across north London.
Manchester United released a statement at 18:15 GMT:
“Manchester United is devastated to confirm the passing of our player Benjamin Šeško. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family, friends and teammates at this unimaginable time. We ask that their privacy is respected.”
Tottenham Hotspur followed minutes later:
“We are deeply shocked and saddened. The entire Spurs family sends love to Manchester United and Benjamin’s loved ones.”
The Premier League announced that all weekend fixtures will observe a minute’s silence, and players will wear black armbands. Šeško’s shirt number 9 will be retired by United for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.
Born on 31 May 2003 in Radeče, Slovenia, Šeško joined Red Bull Salzburg’s academy at 16 and exploded onto the European stage with 18 goals in the 2021–22 Austrian Bundesliga. RB Leipzig paid €24 million for him in 2023, but it was his £65 million summer transfer to Old Trafford that cemented his status as one of world football’s brightest talents. At 6ft 5in, his blend of aerial dominance, pace and finishing had already drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland – a teammate during their Salzburg days. Off the pitch, Šeško was known for his quiet demeanour and devotion to his hometown girlfriend, Lana, and their rescue dog, Max.
The Slovenian FA confirmed President Radenko Mijatović will travel to London tomorrow to support the family. UEFA has postponed Slovenia’s Nations League playoff first leg against Austria, originally scheduled for Thursday. FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the death “a dark day for the global football family.”
As night fell over Bruce Grove, hundreds of United and Tottenham fans laid flowers, scarves and handwritten notes at a makeshift shrine outside the cordon. One read: “From Ljubljana to Old Trafford – forever No.9.” Another, in Slovenian: “Hvala za sanje, Benji.” (Thank you for the dreams, Benji.)
The investigation continues, with police appealing for witnesses who may have seen the lorry on Seven Sisters Road between 15:30 and 16:30. Anyone with dash-cam footage is urged to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8543 5152, quoting CAD 5123/08Nov.
Benjamin Šeško’s final touch of a football – that exquisite volley – will now echo eternally as both his masterpiece and his farewell.
