Lars Dendoncker, a former Brighton and Hove Albion academy player, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 22 due to a heart condition. The Belgian midfielder revealed the news on his Instagram account, saying it was the hardest decision he ever had to make.
Dendoncker joined Brighton from Club Brugge in 2019 and was part of the under-23 squad that won the Premier League 2 Division 2 title in 2020. He spent the 2021-22 season with St Johnstone FC in the Scottish Premiership on loan from Brighton.
The Belgian defender made his professional debut during his spell on loan at Saints from Brighton in the first half of the 2021-22 season. Dendocker, who played seven times in total for the Perth side, was released by Brighton last summer in light of his medical problems.
He wrote an emotional note on Instagram, “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.”
The 21-year-old went on to thank his teammates at Club Brugge, Brighton, and St Johnston, “I’ve learned a lot throughout the years and had to sacrifice a lot. So this really hurts. Eleven years at the Academy of Club Bruges where I made a lot of friends. Two 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.”
The official Brighton Instagram handle was quick to wish their prospect good luck as it commented, “Wishing you all the best, Lars”. Many of his youth teammates and opponents wished him luck including AC Milan youngster Charles De Ketelaere and Manchester United U21 player Toby Collyer. Former Albion midfielder Enock Mwepu, 25, was also forced to retire with a hereditary heart condition in October last year.
