Kevin Campbell, a former striker for Everton and Arsenal, passes away at 54

Arsenal, Kevin Campbell's previous team, has confirmed his passing at the age of 54.

Over the course of an almost 20-year career at the top, Campbell scored 148 goals in 542 club appearances while playing up front for teams like Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Everton.

"Everyone at Everton is deeply saddened by the death of our former striker Kevin Campbell at the age of just 54," an additional statement from the club said. As anyone who has ever met him will attest, he was not just an iconic figure in English football and a great hero of Goodison Park, but also a remarkable person. Farewell, Super Kev."

Following his retirement in May 2007, Campbell went on to have a prosperous career in the media, working for companies like Sky Sports.

"Kevin Campbell was a superb striker and a fans favorite wherever he played," Sky Sports News said in a tribute to the player. In his later years, he was a true friend and coworker to all at Sky Sports News, where he greatly enhanced the warmth and vibrancy of his analysis and punditry.

"Our favorite memories of Kevin are of him and his dickie bows every Thursday on The Football Show. We are thinking of his friends, family, and all the football fans who cherished him."

The forward, who was born in Lambeth, started his career with Arsenal, where he made his debut in May 1988. With the north London team, he went on to win the First Division title (1990–91), the FA Cup and League Cup (1992–93), and the European Cup Winners' Cup (1993–94).

Before joining Forest in the summer of 1995, Campbell—whose son Tyrese played for Stoke City between 2018 and 2024—scored 60 goals in 224 appearances for George Graham's Gunners. He also spent the 1998–1999 season with Trabzonspor.

His stay in Turkey was brief, though, as Everton brought him back to the Premier League on loan in March 1999 to help them fight relegation.

In addition to keeping the team from relegation, Campbell's remarkable comeback of nine goals in eight league games that summer earned him a permanent £3 million transfer to Goodison Park.

The striker, who notably scored the game-winning goal against Liverpool at Anfield in 1999, finished his seven-year tenure on Merseyside as the fifth-highest goal scorer in the Premier League for the Toffees.

In addition, Campbell played for Cardiff City (2006–07) and West Bromwich Albion (2005–06), where he contributed to the Baggies' Premier League survival. Between 1990 and 1992, Campbell also made four appearances for the England U21 team, scoring one goal.

Following his death at the age of 54, Campbell's son Tyrese called his father "my idol" and a "one in a million person".

After a brief illness, the former striker for Everton and Arsenal, who won an FA Cup and a title with the Gunners and became a hero at Goodison Park after keeping the Toffees from relegation in 1999, passed away.

Former Stoke striker Tyrese sent a statement on his behalf, and journalist Alan Myers shared it. "I appreciate my dad was admired by many and the outpouring of love has been some comfort as a family, so thank you for that at such a difficult time," the note read.

"As a son, you see your dad as unbeatable, and the pain you feel is beyond words. He is my hero and the person I aspired to be when I was older.

He was a unique individual who was cherished by many, the life and spirit of every celebration and space he graced. Dad, I will miss you.

"I would now like to request that our family's privacy be honored while we grieve the loss of an incredibly special father, brother, uncle, and all-around wonderful person. I will always love you, dad."

Wayne Rooney, an Everton player and former captain of England, posted on X, saying, "I'm very devastated to hear about Kev.

"Considering all of his loved ones and friends. In addition to being a fantastic teammate, Kev was also a bright individual who greatly assisted me in my early years."

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Campbell, the former striker for Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Everton, and West Brom," a Premier League statement said.