Kiyan Prince becomes world’s first VIRTUAL footballer after being re-signed by QPR

Fifteen years on from his tragic death, Kiyan Prince has become the world’s first virtual footballer after being re-signed by Queens Park Rangers.

Prince was a promising young footballer at QPR when at the age of just 15 he was killed after being stabbed while trying to break up a fight at his school.

But Prince will re-join QPR and to fulfill a childhood dream will be listed as a squad member on all matchday programmes while also being given the No 30 shirt.

Kiyan Prince has been re-signed by QPR as a virtual footballer 15 years on from his tragic death

Using AI technology he will now appear as part of QPR’s squad on the video game FIFA 21

As part of being a virtual footballer he will now feature on the video game FIFA 21 from May 18 as part of QPR’s squad.

He will be available as a playable player in Kick-Off Mode and Career Mode on the popular EA Sports franchise.

In addition on the Ultimate Team section of the game, fans will now be able to access custom Prince vanity items by completing in-game objectives. These include a Kiyan Prince Foundation Kit based upon the 2004-05 Hoops home design and an honorary TIFO of Prince that appears every time a goal is scored. 

Prince has been given the No 30 shirt by QPR and will appear on matchday programmes

Prince is a playable character on the game and will be seen on famous London billboards

Prince’s new virtual character will also be seen by the public on some of the country’s most iconic billboards such as Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street as part of an advertising campaign by JD Sports, while he will now also feature as a special edition card in the Topps’ Match Attax card game.

A combination of AI technology and photo-real illustration was used to detail how Prince would look today as a 30-year-old.

Legendary QPR striker Les Ferdinand has called Prince’s signing the most important they will ever having worked closely with the Kiyan Prince Foundation, which is run by Kiyan’s father Dr Mark Prince OBE, and in 2019 renamed their stadium in the charity’s honour.

Prince was tragically killed 15 years ago after trying to break up a fight at his school

Ex-QPR star Les Ferdinand has called Prince’s signing ‘the most important’ they have made

Ferdinand hopes this new initiative can raise even more awareness and reach even more people.

‘Loads of young guys play FIFA, and they will see this and think about not just him losing his life, but his family, the part of their lives that was lost,’ former England striker Ferdinand said.

‘The guy that committed the murder went to prison, so his family’s life was lost. Leaving your house with a knife is an intention, whether our intention is to protect yourself or to take somebody else’s life.

‘We’ve got to get this out of people’s minds. Hopefully this is something that might be able to prick someone’s conscience and think, “well you know what, let’s put this knife down”.’