MX23RW : Thursday, November 17 19:57:20| >> :600:101067:101067:

Brighton & Hove Albion's Enock Mwepu forced to retire aged 24 due to heart condition

Brighton's Enock Mwepu forced to retire aged 24 due to heart condition
© Reuters
Brighton & Hove Albion announce that Enock Mwepu has been forced to retire from football at the age of just 24 following the diagnosis of a hereditary heart condition.

Brighton & Hove Albion have announced that midfielder Enock Mwepu has been forced to retire from football at the age of just 24 following the diagnosis of a hereditary heart condition.

Mwepu featured in each of the Seagulls' opening six Premier League games this season before he was taken ill while on a flight to join up with Zambia for last month's international break.

After a spell in hospital in Mali, the midfielder returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests which have concluded that his illness is due to a hereditary cardiac condition.

With Mwepu at risk of suffering a cardiac arrest should he continue playing, he has now been advised to end his football career for his own safety.

An statement from Mwepu read: "A boy from a small Zambian township called Chambishi has some news to share.

"He stood strong to follow his dream of playing football at the highest level, and by the grace of God he lived his dream by reaching the Premier League.

"Some dreams, however, come to an end so it is with sadness that I announce the need to hang up my boots because of the medical advice I have received. This is, however, not the end of my involvement with football. I plan to stay involved in some capacity.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that supported me in my football journey, including my wife and family, my agent 12MAN, the Zambian FA, all my previous clubs, team-mates and coaches and especially everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion."

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said, "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."

Brighton & Hove Albion's Enock Mwepu pictured on August 7, 2022© Reuters

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."

Mwepu began his professional career in his native Zambia with Kafue Celtic FC before moving to Europe to join Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg in 2017.

After a spell on loan with Austrian second-tier outfit Liefering, Mwepu then established himself as a first-team regular with Salzburg and went on to record 18 goals and 20 assists in 119 appearances across all competitions before moving to Brighton for around £20m in July 2021.

Mwepu struggled with a hamstring injury for large spells of last season with Graham Potter's side, but he still managed to play 21 times in all tournaments, scoring two Premier League goals in games against Liverpool and Arsenal.

The 24-cap Zambia international ends his career at Brighton with three goals and seven assists to his name after 27 appearances, and the Seagulls currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, two points behind the top four.

ID:496602:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5639:

Click here for more stories about Enock Mwepu

Click here for more stories about Brighton & Hove Albion

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi pictured on October 1, 2022
Read Next:
De Zerbi: 'Conte can win Premier League title with Spurs'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
World Cup fixtures header 3
Sunday, November 20
 
4pm
Monday, November 21
 
1pm
 
7pm
Tuesday, November 22
 
1pm
 
4pm
Wednesday, November 23
 
10am
 
1pm
 
7pm
Thursday, November 24
 
4pm
 
7pm
Friday, November 25
 
10am
 
1pm
 
7pm
Saturday, November 26
 
4pm
Sunday, November 27
 
10am
 
1pm
 
4pm
 
7pm
Monday, November 28
 
10am
Tuesday, November 29
 
3pm
 
7pm
 
7pm
Wednesday, November 30
 
3pm
Thursday, December 1
 
3pm
 
3pm
 
7pm
Friday, December 2
 
3pm
 
7pm
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal14121133112237
2Manchester CityMan City14102240142632
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1586129111830
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs1592431211029
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd148242020026
6Liverpool1464428171122
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton146352319421
8Chelsea146351717021
9Fulham155462426-219
10Brentford154742325-219
11Crystal Palace145451518-319
12Aston Villa155371622-618
13Leicester CityLeicester155282525017
14Bournemouth154471832-1416
15Leeds UnitedLeeds144372226-415
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham154291217-514
17Everton153571117-614
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest153481130-1913
19Southampton153391327-1412
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves15249824-1610

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!