“So Heartbreaking” – 22-Year-Old Ex-Premier League Star Forced to Retire Due to a Heart Condition Saddening Soccer World

With Premier League being perhaps the best league when it comes to soccer, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle with its abundance of talent. However, despite having a promising future in the game, former Brighton and Howe Albion youth defender Lars Dendoncker has decided to call it quits.

Dendoncker, following his brothers’ footsteps, started off as a defender playing for Club Brugge’s youth side before being signed by Brighton. But, Dendoncker did find a great start being labeled as a major prospect future, his career was brought to a sudden end by a single news.

Young Premier League star hangs up his boots

Lars Dendoncker made a name for himself having regularly featured for Premier League side Brighton and Howe Albion’s youth side, with the player also earning national call-ups for Belgium’s youth team. However, Lars Dendoncker has decided to call it a day on his football career after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition.

The 22-year-old defender shared an emotional post on his Instagram account informing the fans of his decision.

“As a child, I only had one dream. Become a professional football player. But my professional career and dream has come to a very early end. Because of my heart condition, I have decided to stop playing because of my own health.”

“This was and will be the hardest decision ever in my life. But there is no going back and I have to look in the future. This will take time to process. I’ve learned a lot throughout the years and had to sacrifice a lot. So this really hurts.”

“11 years at the academy of Club Bruges where I made a lot of friends. 2 beautiful years with Brighton and a loan move to St. Johnstone where I made my professional debut. I want to thank all the players and staff that I have worked with.”

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Lars Dendoncker’s case is in many cases similar to the one of Brighton star Enock Mwepu who was forced to retire early last year in October 2022 due to a hereditary heart disease.

Fans react as Lars Dendoncker announces retirement

Fans were shocked to learn of the player’s sudden retirement announcement, with Lars slowly turning out to be a big prospect for the Belgian national team.

With Dendoncker taking an early retirement from the game, the defender joins Brighton’s Enock Mwepu with both the Brighton players taking an early exit from the game within a span of a year.

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