Bakayoko announced on 6 April 2020 that he had tested positive for COVID-19, followed on 17 April by an announcement that he had made a full recovery.[5] He subsequently suffered a second coronavirus infection and severe malaria. He received lengthy treatment in France twice in early 2021.[6] On 6 March 2021 he was transferred to University Medical Center Freiburg for further treatment. He was said to undergo cancer treatment there and was said to be "in critical condition".[7] Bakayoko died on 10 March 2021.[8][9]