Williams heart warning after career ended at 22

Former Liverpool and Burnley academy prospect Keelan Williams, 22, has retired from football after stage one heart failure forced him to end his career despite two open-heart surgeries and pacemaker implants.

Keelan Williams has retired from professional football at just 22 years old after a cardiac condition made continuing impossible. The former Liverpool and Burnley academy player was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve—a congenital condition where the valve has two flaps instead of three—at age 15 during a routine Wales under-16s camp check-up.

For seven years, Williams managed the condition and continued playing. But in late 2024, a routine check-up revealed the leak in his heart valve had worsened, requiring surgery. In January 2025, he underwent valve-sparing aortic root replacement surgery followed by pacemaker implantation. Complications led to sepsis, a collapsed lung and respiratory failure, requiring 11 days in intensive care. A second successful operation followed in September 2025.

When Williams attempted to return to play, he found he could not perform at full capacity, experiencing breathlessness and heavy legs during sprints. Medical advice ultimately prompted his retirement. Williams told BBC Sport the decision was "sad and disappointing," but he has found support from family, friends and social media, and draws encouragement from his older brother Neco Williams, a Wales international and Premier League full-back.