Cheikhou Kouyate has announced his retirement from international soccer, revealing that a heart condition had affected his club career for several years.
At 36, the 2021 African champion explains that he has lived with this condition since birth. He says he has faced three specific situations with the national team because of his health condition.
“I have a condition; I was born with it. In England, it was monitored by every club I played for. When I signed with Nottingham for the 2022–2023 season, they wanted to offer me a two-year contract. When they found out, they refused and only let me sign for one year. It was the same with Leeds when I wanted to sign there. The doctor also took note of it and didn’t want to take the risk,” he explained.
This situation reportedly complicated his ability to continue his professional career. After leaving Nottingham Forest in 2022, Kouyate spent a long period without a club before joining Amed SK in Turkey in 2025. That stint ultimately marked his final club experience.
On the international stage, the midfielder-turned-defender made his mark on the Lion’s history. A former captain of Senegal, he notably won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 in Cameroon. His last appearance with Senegal was in March 2024.
During the World Cup, under Pape Thiaw’s leadership, Cheikhou Kouyate was also part of the squad without holding an official position.
After nearly two decades at the highest level and several years with the Lions, the player has decided to move on from international play, while revealing a medical condition he had previously kept private.
