Williams heart warning after career ended at 22
At just 22, Keelan Williams faced the hardest decision of his life as stage one heart failure made him call an end to his football career.
In 2025, former footballer Keelan Williams announced his retirement at the age of 22 due to a heart condition. Williams, who had dreams of playing professionally since childhood, was diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve disease at the age of 15. Despite undergoing two open-heart surgeries and receiving two pacemaker implants, his condition continued to deteriorate.
Williams was initially unaware of his heart issue during his time with Liverpool and Burnley, as he only experienced complications after transferring to Bala Town in 2024. He underwent valve-sparing surgery and a pacemaker implantation, but complications led to his ICU admission and a diagnosis of stage-one heart failure. Williams now takes medication and wears an upgraded pacemaker, but his heart's ejection fraction remains low, forcing him to retire from football.
He urges other footballers to prioritize regular heart check-ups, especially those at lower levels of the sport, to ensure early detection of potential conditions.
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