Brighton’s Enock Mwepu forced to end football career due to heart condition
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Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu has been forced to retire at 24 after being diagnosed with hereditary heart condition.
Mwepu was taken ill while on a flight to join up with the Zambia squad during the recent international break.
After a period in hospital in Mali he returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests.
“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,” read a club statement, released by Brighton on Monday.
“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.”
The statement added: “The condition, which can worsen over time, would put Enock at an extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event, if he were to continue playing competitive football.”
Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi expressed his sympathy for Mwepu, who only joined the Seagulls from Red Bull Salzburg in 2021.
“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,” said De Zerbi.
