Former Arsenal midfielder Kristoffer Olsson placed on hospital ventilator due to 'acute brain-related illness' after collapsing at home

The 28-year-old lost consciousness on February 20, leading to him being transferred to Aarhus University Hospital. He has been placed on a ventilator to assist his breathing, with current club Midtjylland announcing in a statement that the health concern in question is “not due to self-harm of any kind, nor is it caused by external factors”.

The Danish outfit went on to say in an official club statement: “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.”

Arsenal are another of those to have sent their best wishes to Olsson, with the Premier League giants having seen the Swede graduate out of their academy system alongside the likes of Serge Gnabry, Hector Bellerin, Alex Iwobi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Chuba Akpom. The club said in a statement on social media: "Get well soon, Kristoffer. We wish you a full and speedy recovery."

Olsson, who has 47 senior caps for Sweden, only made one competitive appearance for the Gunners – in a League Cup clash with West Brom in 2013 – and rejoined Midtjylland in the summer of 2023 after previously spending time with AIK, Krasnodar and Anderlecht.