Ajax star who was left in a coma after collapsing on the pitch is now ‘doing well’


Ajax star Abdelhak Nouri who was left in a coma for TWO YEARS after collapsing on the pitch is now ‘doing well’ and communicating with his family, they tell fans

  • ‘Appie’ has severe and permanent brain damage after cardiac arrhythmia attack
  • Midfielder, 22, is recovering at home where he ‘sleeps, eats, frowns and burps’
  • Nouri can react to watching football and communicates using his eyebrows

A Dutch footballer who was left in a coma after collapsing on the pitch is ‘doing well’ on his road to recovery – and even reacting to watching the sport again, his loved ones say.

Ajax’s Abdelhak ‘Appie’ Nouri sustained severe and permanent brain damage after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia attack in a pre-season friendly with German outfit Werder Bremen in July 2017.

The 22-year-old was in a coma for months but is now recovering in a house built especially for him, where he ‘sleeps, eats, frowns and burps but is very dependent,’ according to Dutch website AD.

Abdelhak Nouri, pictured for Ajax in a match against Roda, collapsed in July 2017 and was left in a coma for months

Teammates, opposition players and medical staff surrounded the injured player, pictured, after his collapse in a pre-season friendly

Teammates, opposition players and medical staff surrounded the injured player, pictured, after his collapse in a pre-season friendly

Fans unfurled a huge banner depicting Nouri in his now-famous number 34, pictured, in a series of tributes after the shocking incident

Fans unfurled a huge banner depicting Nouri in his now-famous number 34, pictured, in a series of tributes after the shocking incident

Nouri’s brother Abderrahim said the pair communicate through raising their eyebrows but the promising midfielder also physically reacts when watching football on television.

His father Mohammed told the site the family had been through a ‘serious ordeal’, adding: ‘We have to take care of him at our very best. We try to do a lot ourselves.’

Nouri's brother Mohammed, pictured, thanks the hundreds of fans who gathered outside his home in Amsterdam shortly after the incident

Nouri’s brother Mohammed, pictured, thanks the hundreds of fans who gathered outside his home in Amsterdam shortly after the incident

Supporters of all ages, many wearing his distinctive number 34, pictured, gathered to pay tribute to the talented midfielder

Supporters of all ages, many wearing his distinctive number 34, pictured, gathered to pay tribute to the talented midfielder

Nouri's father and brother, pictured centre, appeared on the podium as Ajax celebrated winning the Eredivisie title at the Museumplein in the city centre in May 2019

Nouri’s father and brother, pictured centre, appeared on the podium as Ajax celebrated winning the Eredivisie title at the Museumplein in the city centre in May 2019

Meanwhile, Barcelona star and former Ajax teammate Frenkie De Jong revealed how Nouri even played a part in securing his move to the Spanish giants.

‘He talked to me a lot in a summer,’ he said.

‘When I sat with him, his mother came in. She then asked Appie, ‘Appie, where should Frenkie go? To Barcelona?’ As soon as she said that, his eyebrow rose. That was a very special moment.’ 

Many of Europe’s top players paid a series of tributes to the youngster after his collapse.

Friend and ex-teammate Justin Kluivert, pictured, adopted his number 34 when he moved to Italian side AS Roma, and dedicated a goal in the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen to Nouri

Friend and ex-teammate Justin Kluivert, pictured, adopted his number 34 when he moved to Italian side AS Roma, and dedicated a goal in the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen to Nouri

Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele also paid tribute by sporting boots with the midfielder's name on them, pictured

Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele also paid tribute by sporting boots with the midfielder’s name on them, pictured

Friend and ex-teammate Justin Kluivert adopted his number 34 when he moved to Italian side AS Roma, and dedicated a goal in the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen to Nouri.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele sported boots with the midfielder’s name on them.

Hundreds of fans also showed their appreciation by gathering outside his home in Amsterdam shortly after the incident, which was met with emotional thanks by the player’s relatives.

His father and brother then appeared on the podium as Ajax celebrated winning the Eredivisie title at the Museumplein in the city centre last May.

Nouri burst onto the scene as a teenager in 2016 and was considered one of Ajax’s most talented prospects.