Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the stabbing death of footballer Cody Fisher in a Birmingham nightclub.
Police said a 22-year-old man was held at an address in Birmingham city centre just after midnight while a second man aged 21 was arrested in London.
West Midlands Police have said the men will be questioned.
Mr Fisher, 23, was stabbed on the dancefloor of the Crane nightclub in the Digbeth area of Birmingham just before 11.45pm on Boxing Day.
Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead around half an hour later.
Police said Mr Fisher had been on a night out with friends when he was approached by a group of people and stabbed.
Mr Fisher’s family said in a statement after his death: “I have lost my best friend. My family and I are asking for privacy and respectfulness at this heartbreaking time.”
Mr Fisher played for Stratford Town FC, who are in the Southern League Premier Division Central. He had also played for Bromsgrove Sporting.
Stratford Town’s chairman, Jed McCrory, told Sky News that “everyone is devastated by the news” and described Mr Fisher as a “talented footballer” and a “lovely, lovely young man”.
One of Mr Fisher’s friends, who played with him last season at Bromsgrove, told Sky News: “He was genuinely one of the nicest people you could hope to meet. He’d do anything for you.”
Read more UK news
Ice, heavy rain and potential flooding for parts of UK
Rail workers and Border Force staff resume strike action
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
DCI Ian Ingram, from the West Midlands Police homicide team, said after the arrests: “We’re making good progress in our investigation and are building a better picture of what happened.
“We’ve been really pleased with the response from the public and have already had a number of witness accounts and images sent through, which will help with our investigation.
“It’s vital that we hear from everybody who saw any part of what happened that night – no matter how insignificant they think it might be.
“Cody’s family and friends are devastated by what happened, and we’ll continue to work to bring them answers.”
Police have asked anyone who may have information that can help their investigation to contact them.
