Brighton and Hove Albion have announced the shock retirement of Enock Mwepu at the age of 24 after the midfielder was diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition.
In a statement, the club said the condition ‘would put Enock at an extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event if he were to continue playing competitive football’.
The Zambian international, who made 27 appearances for Brighton after arriving at the club from Red Bull Salzburg for around £18m in July 2021, was taken ill while on a flight to join up with his country during the recent international break.
After spending time in hospital in Mali, Mwepu returned to Brighton to undergo further tests, which picked up the heart condition.
Brighton said Mwepu ‘has been advised that the only option, for the sake of his own safety, is for him to stop playing football’.
Mwepu said he hoped to continue his involvement in the sport after receiving the devastating news.
‘A boy from a small Zambian township called Chambishi has some news to share,’ Mwepu wrote in a statement on social media.
‘He stood strong to follow his dream of playing football at the highest level, and by the grace of God he achieved 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.
