Former Premier League star Cheikhou Kouyate retires due to secret heart condition
Cheikhou Kouyate has announced his retirement after a medical revealed a lifelong heart condition he kept hidden throughout his career.
Former Premier League midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has officially retired from professional football. The 36-year-old Senegal international, who enjoyed a decade-long career in England with West Ham United, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest, made the difficult decision after a medical examination at Anderlecht advised him to stop playing.
A hidden struggle
"I suffered from this heart problem since birth. I played with it."
Cheikhou Kouyate
"I never said anything. I didn't want to be forced to stop early. I never told my family, not even the national team doctors."
Cheikhou Kouyate
Kouyate revealed that he had been aware of the condition throughout his career, noting that it was monitored during his time in England. Despite medical warnings, he opted to sign liability waivers to continue playing, keeping the issue private from his family and team doctors. He explained that the condition caused him significant pain, particularly in high-altitude environments or heat, but he chose to persevere until his recent medical assessment made continuing impossible.
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