The football world is mourning the loss of Chris Bart-Williams, the former midfielder who played for Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and England. He passed away in the US at the age of 49, where he had been working as a coach and mentor.

Bart-Williams was born in Sierra Leone and moved to London as a child. He started his career at Leyton Orient, where he made his debut at 16.

He then joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1991 for a club-record fee of £275,000. He played more than 150 games for the Owls, helping them reach the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 1993.

He also played under Trevor Francis, the former striker who also died on Monday at the age of 69.

In 1995, Bart-Williams moved to Nottingham Forest for £2.5 million. He became a key player for the Reds, winning the First Division title in 1997/98 and scoring 36 goals in 248 appearances.

He also played for Charlton and Ipswich, before ending his playing career in Cyprus and Malta.

Bart-Williams represented England at under-19, under-21 and B levels, earning 16 caps for the under-21s. He then pursued a coaching career in the US, working in women's college football and youth soccer.

He was the owner and CEO of CBW Soccer Elite, a recruiting agency for college-bound players. He also became the head coach of Dade County in Florida last year.

His former clubs and teammates paid tribute to him on social media, expressing their shock and sadness at his untimely death.

"Sheffield Wednesday are deeply saddened at the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams," the club said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Chris' and Trevor's families and friends at this devastating time."

Nottingham Forest tweeted: "Nottingham Forest is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams. Our thoughts go out to Chris' family and friends at this truly difficult time."

Mark Crossley, who played with Bart-Williams at Forest, wrote: "Devastating and I'm so upset to hear the news of Trevor Francis passing and my former teammate Chris Bart-Williams, both so young, it is so sad , RIP Trevor and Chris."

Ipswich also offered their condolences, posting: "The club is saddened to learn of the passing of former player Chris Bart-Williams. Once a Blue, always a Blue."