Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Enock Mwepu has been forced to end his playing career.
This is after the 24-year-old Zambian international was diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition.
Enock Mwepu played in Albion’s opening day victory over Manchester United.
The condition, which can worsen over time, would put Enock at an extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event, if he were to continue playing competitive football.
Brighton & Hove Albion Club chairman Tony Bloom in a statement said it was sad to see such a promising career cut short at such a young age.
He said the club will give him all the love, help and support to make a full recovery.
“We are all absolutely devastated for Enock. He and his family have had a traumatic few weeks and while we are just thankful he has come through that period, he has seen such a promising career cut short at such a young age.
“As a club we will give him all the love, help and support we possibly can to make a full recovery, and then as he decides on the next steps in his life,” he said.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi added, “I am so sorry for Enock. Before I arrived I looked at all the squad, and he was a player I was so excited and looking forward to working with. We will do everything we can to help him.”
Enock was taken ill while on a flight to join up with Zambia during the international break and after a period in hospital in Mali he returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests and ongoing care.
These tests have concluded that his illness is due to a hereditary cardiac condition, which manifests later in life and was not previously evident on regular cardiac screening.
Enock has been advised that the only option, for the sake of his own safety, is for him to stop playing football.