Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Quévin Castro has died at the age of 25 after collapsing during a practice match in Portugal on Saturday.
The footballer fell inanimate on the pitch ten minutes into a pre-season fixture between Real Sport Clube and Estrela da Amadora at the Estádio das Seixas in Malveira. Medical personnel immediately ran onto the field to perform resuscitation maneuvers and utilized an automated external defibrillator.
Portugal's National Institute of Medical Emergency was called to the stadium as resuscitation efforts continued. Paramedics from the Malveira Volunteer Firefighters subsequently transported Castro to the hospital, where doctors confirmed his death.
Castro had celebrated his 25th birthday just one week prior to Saturday's match. He had completed a transfer to Real Sport Clube, a club located in Sintra municipality near Lisbon, at the end of June.
Medical response at Malveira stadium
The pre-season fixture took place at the Estádio das Seixas in Malveira, a town situated within Mafra municipality just north of the Portuguese capital. Real Sport Clube were facing Estrela da Amadora, a club based in neighboring Amadora, as both sides prepared for their upcoming campaign.
Ten minutes after kickoff, Castro collapsed unexpectedly on the pitch without prior physical contact or warning. Pitchside medical staff intervened immediately to provide emergency medical treatment before municipal emergency services arrived on the scene.
Following emergency stabilization attempts on the pitch, Castro was moved to an ambulance by the local fire department and taken to hospital, where medical staff were unable to revive him.
Career path in English football
Castro began his footballing development in Portugal, playing youth football for SC Linda-a-Velha in Oeiras before moving to England to launch his senior career.
He joined the youth system of Premier League club Chelsea, featuring for their under-23 team, before securing a move to West Bromwich Albion. His professional progression in England was marked by instability, involving multiple loan moves across different clubs.
In addition to his spells in English football, Castro previously played in Portugal for Varzim B, the reserve side of Póvoa de Varzim-based club Varzim SC. Prior to joining Real Sport Clube, he spent the previous season with Eastbourne Borough, a club competing in the National League South, the fifth tier of English football.
Assessment by Real Sport Clube
When Real Sport Clube announced Castro as their new signing on June 29, the Sintra-based club described him as a unique and special talent. Club officials highlighted his impressive physical profile, noting that the 1.93-metre-tall player possessed a large wingspan and a slender build while being capable of playing both in midfield and attack.
The club praised his playing style as very explosive and powerful, while highlighting his great technical talent. Their official signing statement specifically referenced a fantastic display Castro produced against Premier League side Arsenal in the EFL Cup during the 2021-22 season.
Real Sport Clube noted that following his standout performance against Arsenal, Castro faced several unique challenges both on and off the pitch that tested him in every sense throughout his subsequent career.
