Soccer-Brighton defender Mwepu ends career due to heart condition

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 9, 2022 Brighton & Hove Albion's Enock Mwepu celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

(Reuters) - Brighton & Hove Albion's Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu has been forced to end his playing career aged 24 after being diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition, the Premier League club said in a statement on Monday.

Brighton said Mwepu's condition, which was not previously evident on regular cardiac screening, puts him at an extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event if he were to continue playing the game competitively.