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 during the first half of a match against Primeira Liga side Estrela de Amadora at the Estadio das Seixas in Lisbon on Saturday. The game, played under routine summer conditions, turned in an instant from a tune-up exercise 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 football.

Real Sport Clube described Castro as a “beloved member of our sporting family” and paid an emotional tribute to the midfielder, stressing that he 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.”

Born in Portugal and shaped in the academy of Sporting Clube, Castro’s journey took him across the channel and into English football, where his talent and personality quickly found admirers.

He joined West Brom in 2021 and made his debut in a high-profile Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal, a night that marked his first taste of senior action for the club. His second appearance came later that season against Swansea, another step in a career that seemed to be building steadily before he moved on loan to Burton Albion in search of more regular minutes.

Castro’s time in England also included spells at Cambridge City, York City and Notts County, stops that underlined the determination of a player willing to fight for a place and a future in the professional game. Last summer he returned to Portugal, signing for Real Sport Clube as he looked to relaunch his career closer to home.

News of his death prompted an immediate and heartfelt response from West Brom, who said they were “devastated” and confirmed plans to honour him at The Hawthorns. The club will hold a period of applause in the 25th minute of their Championship fixture against Burnley on Sunday, a deliberate nod to his age, and the players will wear black armbands in his memory.

For a footballer whose story still felt like it was in its opening chapters, the tributes now come from every stage of his journey — from Lisbon to the Midlands and back again — as the game grapples with the loss of a player remembered as family long before he was ever just a name on a teamsheet.