Quevin Castro, Former West Brom Midfielder, Dies at 25

Former West Brom midfielder Quevin Castro has died at the age of 25 after collapsing during a pre-season friendly in Portugal.

The Real Sport Clube player fell to the ground in the first half of a match against top-flight side Estrela de Amadora at the Estadio das Seixas in Lisbon on Saturday. The game was part of Real Sport Clube’s preparations for the new third-tier campaign.

The Lisbon Football Association (AFL) confirmed on Sunday that Castro “passed away this morning during the pre-season friendly”, turning what should have been a routine warm-up fixture into a tragedy.

Real Sport Clube paid an emotional tribute, describing the midfielder as a “beloved member of our sporting family”. In a statement, the club said Castro “was much more than just a player; he was an integral part of our family, leaving an indelible mark on all those who knew him.”

Castro’s journey had already taken him across two countries and several clubs by the age of 25. Born in Portugal and a product of the Sporting Clube academy, he moved to England and worked his way through the lower leagues, appearing for Cambridge City, York City and Notts County.

His break into the professional spotlight came in 2021 when he joined West Brom. He made his debut for the Baggies in a Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal, stepping out at senior level for one of English football’s historic clubs. A second appearance followed later that season against Swansea, before a loan move to Burton Albion offered him more minutes and another platform to impress.

West Brom said they were “devastated” by news of his death. The club will honour him during their Championship fixture against Burnley on Sunday, with players wearing black armbands and a period of applause planned in the 25th minute, a nod to the age at which his life was cut short.

Last summer, Castro returned to Portugal, seeking a fresh chapter back in his home country. That return was supposed to be the start of something new. Instead, it has left Portuguese and English football united in grief, asking how a career – and a life – with so much still ahead could end on a quiet pre-season afternoon.