24-year-old Jeremy (Mukhtar) Hélan has stunned his football club, Sheffield Wednesday, by announcing that he wants to retire from the game to concentrate on Islam.
The defender and midfielder, a product of Manchester City’s youth system and a former France Under 19 international, felt as though he had lost passion for the game and instead wanted to spend some time learning more about his religion.
It is said that this decision came about after spending increasing amounts of time at Sheffield Mosque after his signing, and he feels the need to follow up this decision with a visit to Saudi Arabia.
A source from Sheffield Wednesday has said that his decision has become the “talk of the dressing room. Jeremy told them what he wanted to do last week. He said that he wanted to quit for Saudi to concentrate more on religion after becoming more involved at a mosque in Sheffield.”
“The club are a bit taken aback by it. They are working with him to come to some kind of agreement,” especially since his contract was due to run till the end of the 2016/17 season. Sheffield Wednesday are yet to comment on his, and their own, decision.
Here are a few of our favourite responses to the news from Twitter:
In all seriousness best of luck for the future Jeremy Helan a huge and brave decision to follow your beliefs 👍
— S9 Owl (@stevenowls) September 18, 2016
Here's a move that even Messi to @Arsenal couldn't top: @swfc's Jeremy Helan retires from footy aged 24 to focus on the deen. #AllahumaBarik
— Zaynab | زينب (@sIacktivist) September 18, 2016
All the best Jeremy Helan for the future and for your new adventures. #swfc #uto #wawaw @swfc
— Jonathan (@Jonathan_1867) September 18, 2016
I'm not a fan of religion but I have to admired #JeremyHelan #swfc for doing what he believes in. Respect!
— Leigh Wilkins (@LongRider1600) September 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/JoshM67/status/777677663175581696
Best of luck Jérémy Hélan of #SWFC. My you be guided on your journey in your new chapter in life.
— Dilan (@Dilan_A7) September 19, 2016
Good luck Jeremy #Helan – admire your commitment to your beliefs. Thank you for being part of the #swfc family
— Dave W (@davidwinfield) September 18, 2016
Jeremy Helan understands success
— Musa Nazir (@MNazirNewEra) September 18, 2016
