Ajax’s Abdelhak Nouri suffered permanent brain damage after collapsing during friendly

A professional footballer who collapsed during a match has suffered severe and lifelong brain damage.

20-year-old Abdelhak Nouri, one of the best young players at Dutch giants Ajax, fell to the ground 70 minutes into a game against Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Team-mates and fans watched in shock as Nouri, known as Appie, was airlifted to hospital after slump­­ing to the ground.

He was put into intensive care where results have shown that his brain is not functioning and there is a lack of oxygen supply.

Tests revealed he suffered heart rhythm problems during the game. MRI scans show his brain was starved of oxygen.

A club statement said his chances of recovery from the damage is nil.