Rebecca Ellison, wife of Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand, lost her battle with breast cancer on Friday. She was just 34 years old.

“My soul mate slipped away last night,” Ferdinand said in a statement.

”Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. She was a fantastic, loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration,” Ferdinand wrote.

“Myself, my parents Janice and Julian, along with Rebecca’s parents Lesley and Stephen, would like to thank our families, friends and my club colleagues who have rallied around in these desperate days, weeks and months. I would also like to express my gratitude for the dedication and expertise of the staff led by Professors Johnstone and Clarke at the Royal Marsden. Their valiant efforts to prolong Rebecca’s all-too-short life will not be forgotten,” he added.

.@rioferdy5 has released the following statement after the passing of his wife, Rebecca; http://t.co/tR3GzdQTfo pic.twitter.com/108zqzw9Ur

— QPR FC (@QPRFC) May 2, 2015

Rio Ferdinand and Rebecca Ellison married back in 2009, and have three children. Lorenz is nine, Tate is six, and Tia is four years old.

Rio Ferdinand didn’t appear in QPR’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool on Saturday. He has been on a leave of absence–that was previously unexplained–in recent weeks. Both QPR and Liverpool teams expressed their sympathies at Anfield before and during the game, regarding the passing of Rebecca Ellison.

.@QPRFC will wear black armbands today in the wake of the sad passing of @rioferdy5's wife, Rebecca pic.twitter.com/BargAD5Niq

— QPR FC (@QPRFC) May 2, 2015

Condolences are no doubt going out to Rio Ferdinand from all around the world on the passing of his wife Rebecca Ellison. May his family find some peace from that love and support in the coming days.