Ajax's Abdelhak Nouri suffers brain damage after collapse
Last Updated: 03/08/17 9:27pm
Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri has suffered "serious and permanent brain damage" following his collapse during a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen in Austria, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 20-year-old fell to the turf after 70 minutes against Bremen on Saturday - and after receiving CPR - was airlifted to intensive care at a hospital in Innsbruck.
On Monday, Ajax said Nouri was "out of danger" with his "heart undamaged and functioning as normal", but added his brain function could not be tested properly as long as he is kept asleep.
Ajax later confirmed the news that Nouri had sustained lasting brain damage on Thursday.
"Ajax are deeply saddened by the news that Appie Nouri has been diagnosed with serious and permanent brain damage," the club posted on Twitter.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his loved ones in this difficult time."
The club later added in a statement: "Nouri's brain functions have been further examined over the last few days at a hospital in Innsbruck. The diagnosis is that a large part of his brain is no longer functioning and that the chance of recovery of these crucial brain functions is nil.
"This is most likely due to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain after the midfielder became unwell during the Ajax - Werder Bremen match in Hippach. It is now expected Nouri will be taken to a hospital in Amsterdam in the near future for further care."
Nouri - a product of Ajax's youth system - made 12 senior first team appearances for the club last season in the Eredivisie and Europa League respectively, and has represented the Netherlands at youth level from U15 to U19.
