Former Arsenal midfielder Kristoffer Olsson has been hospitalised after collapsing at his home, his club Midtjylland has said.
The 28-year-old lost consciousness on February 20 and was subsequently transferred to Aarhus University hospital, where he is currently on a ventilator.
A statement from Midtjylland said that Olsson “is suffering from an apparently acute brain-related illness that is not due to self-harm of any kind, nor is it caused by external factors”.
It read: “A team of Denmark’s leading medical experts is currently working hard to make a diagnosis and initiate the right treatment.
“Since hospitalisation, Kristoffer has been surrounded by his immediate family and members of Midtjylland’s staff and is being treated by specialists in the field.
“Midtjylland urges the public to show respect and understanding so that Kristoffer, his family and the doctors are given the necessary peace of mind to ensure Kristoffer’s healing and recovery as well as possible.
“Everyone at Midtjylland is of course deeply affected by Kristoffer’s sudden illness and our thoughts and full support go to Kristoffer and his family.”
Get well soon, Kristoffer.
We wish you a full and speedy recovery ❤️ https://t.co/ruRrMpiPI8 pic.twitter.com/0RQMAQjUtQ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 27, 2024
Olsson came through Arsenal’s youth academy alongside the likes of Serge Gnabry, Hector Bellerin, Alex Iwobi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Chuba Akpom.
He made his only senior appearance for Arsenal as a substitute during a League Cup victory over West Bromwich Albion in 2013.
He left the north London side to join Midtjylland permanently in 2015, going on to have spells at AIK back in Sweden, Krasnodar in Russia and Anderlecht in Belgium, before rejoining Midtjylland in the summer of 2023.
Olsson has made 20 appearances in all competitions for the Danish side this season, assisting five times. He last featured on February 9 against Fredrikstad.
Olsson made the first of his 47 international appearances for Sweden’s national team in 2017. He featured in four of his nation’s games at the delayed European Championships in 2021.
Midtjylland are third in the Danish Superliga, one point behind league leaders Brondby.
(Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images)
