Ex-Arsenal footballer rushed to hospital with 'acute brain disease' as Gunners send message to star

Ex-Arsenal footballer rushed to hospital with 'acute brain disease' as Gunners send message to star

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as former Arsenal footballer rushed to hospital with acute brain disease

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 27/02/2024

- 09:51

Updated: 27/02/2024

- 10:45

The 28-year-old spent three years at Arsenal earlier in his career

Former Arsenal youngster Kristoffer Olsson is on a ventilator in a Danish hospital after losing consciousness last week.

The Sweden international has been in hospital since last Tuesday and is suffering from an 'acute disease' to the brain.


Olsson plays in Denmark for FC Midtjylland but hasn't featured for the club since their 5-1 league win over Viborg on December 4 last year.

Midtjylland released a statement on Tuesday morning confirming that the midfielder is in hospital due to a 'sudden illness'.

Kristoffer Olsson

Former Arsenal footballer Kristoffer Olsson is in hospital with an acute brain disease

Getty

The club say that Olsson has an 'acute disease related to the brain' and he is being treated by leading medical experts in Denmark.

The statement reads: "Against the background of the increasing rumours and conjectures that are pending about the reason for Kristoffer Olsson's absence in the recent period, we feel compelled to go out with this announcement to the public.

"The 28-year-old Swedish national team player lost consciousness at his home on Tuesday 20 February and was transferred to Aarhus University Hospital, where he is hospitalized and on a ventilator.

"Kristoffer Olsson is affected by an apparent acute disease related to the brain, which is not due to self-harm of any kind, nor is the cause due to external factors.

"A team of Denmark's leading medical experts is currently working at high pressure to make a diagnosis and initiate the right treatment.

"Since admission, Kristoffer has been surrounded by his immediate family and parts of FC Midtjylland's staff, and is being treated by specialists in the field.

"FC Midtjylland urgently requests the public to show respect and understanding, so that Kristoffer, the family and the doctors get the necessary peace of mind to ensure Kristoffer's recovery and recovery as well as possible.

"Everyone at FC Midtjylland is of course deeply affected by Kristoffer's sudden illness and our thoughts and full support go out to Kristoffer and his family.

"FC Midtjylland has no further statements at present, but we will inform the public when significant new information arises."

Arsenal have posted a message to Olsson on X, writing: "Get well soon, Kristoffer. We wish you a full and speedy recovery."

Olsson spent three years on the books of Arsenal between 2011 and 2014, making one first-team appearance.

He was part of the team that beat West Brom in a League Cup match in September 2013, scoring a penalty aged 18 in the shootout win at the Hawthorns.

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Kristoffer Olsson

Kristoffer Olsson made one first-team appearance for Arsenal in 2013

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Olsson left to join FC Midtjylland on loan and then signed a permanent deal, spending two years at the club in his first spell.

He made his debut for Sweden in 2017, the same year he joined Swedish side AIK, and has also had spells in Turkey with Krasnodar and in Belgium with Anderlecht.

He returned to Midtjylland, initially on loan, in 2022 before making a permanent move back to the Danish club last July.

Olsson has won 47 caps to date for Sweden but is yet to score for his country.

Kristoffer Olsson

Kristoffer Olsson plays for FC Midtjylland in Denmark

Getty

The Sweden FA have also posted a message to Olsson on social media channel X.

The post reads: "We're with you, Koffe.

"On Tuesday morning, we received the terrible news that the men's national team player Kristoffer Olsson suffered a sudden illness and is now on a ventilator in hospital.

"The entire Swedish football family is thinking of you and hopes that you will recover soon. Our thoughts also go to Kristoffer's loved ones at this difficult time."

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