Belgian under-21 international and Wolfsburg midfielder Junior Malanda died when a car he was travelling in smashed into a tree, Bild reported on Saturday.

The 20-year-old, who died at the scene of the accident, had been a back seat passenger when the driver lost control and slid off the road, police said.

He had been on his way to join up with his Wolfsburg teammates for a winter-break in South Africa, but died at Porta Westfalica on his way to Hanover airport on Saturday afternoon.

Before joining the Bundesliga club Malanda had played at Anderlecht in Belgium and at Lille in France.

He had 15 under-21 caps with Belgium and had played 10 German league games this season.