Enock Mwepu Has Been Forced To Retire Due To Heart Condition

"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," Brighton said in a statement.

Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu, 24, has been forced to retire from professional football due to a hereditary heart condition. Expert said the footballer would be at “extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event” if he continued to play, according to the Premier League club.

Mwepu had recently become ill while on a trip to Mali with the Zambia national team. He was unable to train after arriving in West Africa last month and was hospitalized for four days.

Mwepu underwent tests upon his return to England, and Brighton stated that the results indicated that his “only option” was to retire.

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“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,” Brighton said in a statement.

“Sadly, this can be exacerbated by playing sport so Enock has been advised that the only option, for the sake of his own safety, is for him to stop playing football.”

Mwepu said he was retiring with “sadness”, adding he had lived his dream by reaching the Premier League but that “some dreams come to an end”.

“This is, however, not the end of my involvement in football, I plan to stay involved in some capacity,” he said in a statement on Twitter,

The versatile player joined Brighton from Red Bull Salzburg on a four-year contract worth £18 million in July 2021. He scored three goals in 27 appearances for the club and last appeared in September’s 5-2 win over Leicester City.

Brighton’s head of medicine and performance Adam Brett said: “It is a terrible blow for Enock, but he has to put his health and his family first and this is the right choice, however difficult it is to quit the game he loves.

“Given this is Enock’s career and a decision which can’t be taken lightly, we have taken our time to be as thorough as possible, completed advanced cardiac investigations and collaborated with clinical experts to gain the best second opinions for Enock.

“We will be helping him make sure the condition is managed with the appropriate treatment for him to otherwise live a long and healthy life.”

Francisco, Mwepu’s younger brother, is also a professional footballer for Austrian club Sturm Graz. Professional athletes suffering from heart problems are unusual, but not unheard of.

Sergio Aguero, Manchester City’s all-time leading scorer, retired from football at the age of 33 after experiencing chest discomfort less than six months after joining Barcelona.

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Daley Blind, a former Manchester United defender, was diagnosed with a heart condition in December 2019 but returned to play after receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Christian Eriksen, a Manchester United midfielder, also has an ICD after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020.

Fabrice Muamba collapsed during a game in 2012 after his heart stopped, and Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died after collapsing during an international match in France in 2003.

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