Former Nottingham Forest midfielder announces retirement amid secret heart condition

Owner-supplied report; not independently verified. The retirement announcement, medical account and quotations attributed to Cheikhou Kouyate via The Sun are reproduced as supplied, not independently confirmed medical findings.

Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate says he has been living with a heart condition since birth. Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has announced his retirement from football due to a heart condition.

The 36-year-old, who left the Reds in 2024 when his two-year contract expired, says he has lived with the issue since birth. He had regular check-ups during his time in the Premier League — across spells at the City Ground, West Ham United and Crystal Palace — but largely kept quiet about it, even keeping it hidden from his family.

Kouyate says he was advised by doctors to stop playing when he underwent tests at Anderlecht in the summer. His former club had been in touch about a potential return, but instead the former Senegal international decided to hang up his boots.

“I suffered from this heart problem since birth,” Kouyate said via The Sun. “I played with it.

“In England, it was monitored every six months. I had medical check-ups at West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest. Every time I had the tests, the problem reappeared.

“The doctors always pointed out the problem to me, but I took responsibility myself. I signed the insurance papers stating that anything that might happen to me would be my responsibility.

“Anderlecht called me (in the summer) to play there and also to start training as a coach. But after the medical examination, the doctor asked me to stop playing football.”

Kouyate was part of Forest’s recruitment drive in the summer of 2022 following the club’s promotion to the top flight. He made 36 appearances in the Garibaldi and scored one goal.

He went on to play for Turkish side Amedspor but has been a free agent since leaving in January. His career also included winning 92 caps for his country.

Explaining his heart condition, he added: “The problem is at high altitude. If I play in the heat, it hurts terribly, during and after matches.”