The contract of Ghanaian striker, Raphael Dwamena has been terminated by Austrian second tier side, FC Blau-Weiß Linz.
The 26-year-old and the club mutually agreed to end their relationship following his recent heart problem which has been reoccurring over the years.
Dwamena had to be carried off on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital after an implanted chip shocked him in the game against Hartberg in the OFB Cup.
“There was an appointment this week when we told him and his management that it was no longer an option for us that he is on the pitch for us. The risk is just too great for us,” said the club’s sporting director, Tino Wawra to Laola1.
Wawra added: “We are very sorry for him. Apart from Salzburg, you won’t find a player with the quality of a healthy Raphael Dwamena in all of Austria . It’s a shame that he probably has to think about a final retirement now. He is a great guy, has a top character. That’s why the decision is all the more difficult for us.”
On 21 August 2017, FC Zürich agreed a fee with Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for the transfer of Dwamena. He was set to join Brighton subject to passing a medical, obtaining a work permit and international clearance, however the deal fell through after Dwamena failed his medical due to a heart condition and he had a heart monitor fixed.
In October 2019, after new examinations were carried on his heart condition, the doctors recommended his immediate withdrawal and retirement from football. He, however, continued after having implemented an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in January 2020