KOUYATE REVEALS HE PLAYED ENTIRE CAREER WITH HEART CONDITION

Former Premier League midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has revealed that he was born with a heart problem and played his entire career with the condition, including his time in English football. The Senegal international made the disclosure in an interview with Senegalese broadcaster Walf TV. Kouyate said he had suffered from the problem since birth and continued playing despite it. He added that the condition was monitored every six months while he played in England. The revelation follows Kouyate's announcement that he has retired from professional football.

Kouyate played in the Premier League between 2014 and 2024, representing West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, and made almost 300 top-flight appearances. He later moved to Amedspor in Turkey, where he played eight matches before retiring. Kouyate said he was able to continue playing by signing insurance documents that placed responsibility on him in the event of a serious incident. He said he never told his own family about the heart problem. Kouyate described himself as fortunate not to have suffered any serious issues on the pitch during his career.

The disclosure follows a number of heart-related incidents involving professional footballers in recent decades. Former Manchester City player Marc-Vivien Foe died after collapsing on the pitch, while Christian Eriksen almost died after suffering a heart attack on the pitch during Euro 2020. Measures have since been introduced in football to safeguard player welfare amid such concerns. Kouyate's case adds to a history of players competing with underlying heart conditions, in his instance for the duration of a career spanning a decade in England. His retirement at Amedspor brings to an end a playing career that included spells at three Premier League clubs.