Getty reports Cheikhou Kouyate’s secret heart defect ends Premier League career

At the City Ground, the echo of cheering fans faded as Cheikhou Kouyate announced his retirement, a decision forced by a heart defect he had concealed since birth. The Senegalese midfielder, who made 296 Premier League appearances for West Ham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, confirmed the condition after a spell in Turkey.

Career in England and the hidden ailment

Kouyate arrived in England in 2014, joining West Ham from Anderlecht and later becoming a regular at both West Ham and Crystal Palace. He amassed 129 Premier League appearances for West Ham and added 141 at Selhurst Park, before moving to Nottingham Forest in 2022 where he helped secure top‑flight safety.

Throughout his decade in the Premier League, regular medical checks at West Ham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest detected the problem each time, yet Kouyate chose to keep playing. He signed insurance papers stating any future health issue would be his responsibility.

Final years and the Turkish chapter

After his contract with Nottingham Forest expired in 2024, Kouyate spent a year out of football before signing for Turkish side Amedspor in the summer of 2025. He made eight appearances before leaving the club in January, when a medical examination advised him to stop playing.

He later considered a return to Anderlecht, but the club’s doctor reiterated the need to retire, confirming the heart defect was the decisive factor.

Personal revelation and legacy

Speaking to Senegalese channel Walf TV, Kouyate said: “I suffered from this heart problem since birth. I played with it. In England, it was monitored every six months.” He added that the condition flared at high altitude or in heat, causing severe side‑stitch‑like pain for about five minutes and lingering cramps after matches.

Despite the hidden ailment, Kouyate never missed action because of it, and he never disclosed the issue to family or national team doctors. He earned 92 caps for Senegal, featuring at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022.