Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Quevin Castro has died at the age of 25 after collapsing during a preseason friendly match in Portugal on Saturday.
The midfielder, who had just turned 25, collapsed unconscious on the pitch after ten minutes of play during a match between Real Sport Clube and top flight side Estrela da Amadora at the Estadio das Seixas in Malveira, western Portugal.
Medical staff from both teams intervened immediately on the field and used a defibrillator in an effort to revive the player. Emergency services were called quickly to the stadium and transported Castro to hospital, where he died despite resuscitation attempts and care.
The precise cause of the collapse has not been made public at this stage. The friendly match was abandoned after the tragedy.
Medical emergency during preseason match
Castro had returned to Portugal this summer to sign for Real Sport Clube in an attempt to relaunch his playing career. Real Sport Clube, based in Queluz near Sintra, compete in Liga 3, the third division of Portuguese football.
Opponents Estrela da Amadora play in the Primeira Liga, the top division of professional football in Portugal. The fixture was held at the Estadio das Seixas in Malveira, a town in the Mafra municipality west of Lisbon.
Career across British and Portuguese football
Born in Portugal and raised in England, Castro spent a large part of his career playing in British football. The midfielder joined historic English club West Bromwich Albion as a promising young talent and spent time in their senior squad.
He later played for a series of English clubs across various divisions, including Burton Albion, Notts County, Gateshead, York City, King's Lynn, and Eastbourne Borough, before returning to Portugal this summer.
