Quevin Castro dies at 25 during match in Portugal

Football has lost Quevin Castro at just 25, after the former West Brom midfielder collapsed during a pre-season friendly in Portugal.

Castro went down in the first half of Real Sport Clube’s game against top-flight side Estrela de Amadora at the Estadio das Seixas in Lisbon on Saturday. The match was a routine warm-up. It turned into a tragedy.

The Lisbon Football Association (AFL) confirmed on Sunday that Castro “passed away this morning during the pre-season friendly”, announcing his death in a brief but stark statement that stunned Portuguese and English football.

Real Sport Clube, who play in Portugal’s third tier, spoke of a player who had quickly become central to their dressing room and their identity. “Quevin 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,” the club said, calling him a “beloved member of our sporting family”.

Castro’s journey had already taken him across two countries and a string of clubs. Born in Portugal and shaped in the academy of Sporting Clube, he moved to England and worked his way through the lower leagues, appearing for Cambridge City, York City and Notts County as he tried to carve out a career.

His break came in 2021 when West Brom signed him. He made his debut for the club in the Carabao Cup against Arsenal, a night that put him under the lights at The Hawthorns and hinted at a bigger stage to come. His second appearance followed later that season against Swansea, before he headed out on loan to Burton Albion in search of more minutes and experience.

West Brom described themselves as “devastated” by the 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, signing for Real Sport Clube and bringing his career full circle back to the country where it began. Now, the tributes come from both sides of the channel, from academy pitches to professional stadiums, for a midfielder remembered not just for his talent, but for the imprint he left on every club he touched.