Cheikhou Kouyate reveals he played with a heart condition throughout his career

Former Premier League midfielder and Senegal international Cheikhou Kouyate, who retired this year at 36, has shocked the football world with a candid admission. Known for his robust playing style, Kouyate revealed he played his entire professional career with a congenital heart condition while enduring severe physical pain.

In an interview with Walfadjri TV, Kouyate explained that English clubs were aware of his condition through regular medical check-ups. Despite medical warnings from West Ham United, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest, the midfielder knowingly signed insurance waivers, accepting personal responsibility for any potential fatal consequences to keep playing.

The condition caused symptoms such as side pains and debilitating cramps that lasted for 24 hours after matches, particularly in hot weather or at high altitudes. Kouyate kept these symptoms hidden from his family and national team medical staff. His career effectively ended this summer when a medical examination at Anderlecht led the club doctor to forbid him from playing, ending a potential player-coach contract.

Kouyate's career spanned a successful period in Belgium, where he won four league titles with Anderlecht, followed by nearly 300 Premier League appearances. He also served as a long-time captain of Senegal, leading them to their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations victory.