Portuguese player dies aged 25 after collapsing on the pitch

FILE PHOTO - Arsenal's Nuno Tavares (R) and West Bromwich Albion's Quevin Castro battle for the ball during the English Carabao Cup second round soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns. (is associated with: «Portuguese player dies aged 25 after collapsing on the pitch») Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa

Portuguese player Quevin Castro died at the age of 25 after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match between his club Real SC and Estrela da Amadora on Saturday.

Castro collapsed after 10 minutes of play. He immediately received medical care on the pitch, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"Quevin Castro was far more than a player, he was a member of our family, leaving a mark on all of those who had the privilege of knowing him," Real SC wrote on Instagram.

The president of the Portuguese league, Reinaldo Teixeira, said: "At this moment of deep sadness, we send our condolences to the family and friends of Quevin Castro."

Castro had joined Real SC from English fifth-division side Eastbourne last month.

West Bromwich, another former club, said that they will pay tribute to the player on Sunday, with a period of applause in the 25th minute of the second division fixture against Burnley.

"The thoughts of everyone at Albion are with Quevin's loved ones at this desperately sad time," the club said in a statement.