Lucas Pérez, the Spanish forward who endured a short spell at Arsenal, has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, according to reports from the Netherlands.
The 36-year-old joined PSV Eindhoven just one month ago after terminating his contract with Deportivo La Coruña, but now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines and may miss the remainder of the season.
The news, first reported by De Telegraaf, comes amid a broader resurgence of TB across Europe. Although long considered a disease of the past, recent statistics show a 13 per cent rise in UK cases in 2024, with similar upward trends seen on the continent.
Pérez, who has made only three appearances for PSV, is said to have contracted the illness prior to joining the Dutch club.
An active TB infection typically affects the lungs and can be highly contagious. Standard treatment involves weeks of isolation and an extended course of antibiotics. Symptoms include a persistent cough, fatigue, weight loss, and fever, many of which often go unnoticed until the disease has progressed significantly.
Signed by Arsène Wenger for £17 million, his arrival was seen as a surprise late move in the summer window, more reactionary than strategic. Despite limited opportunities, Pérez delivered when called upon, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in 21 appearances across all competitions. Still, he was never truly given a fair shot in a side that seemed to have little tactical use for him.
He was loaned back to Deportivo the following summer, before being sold to West Ham for €4.4m in 2018. There, he managed six goals in 19 appearances but once again found himself surplus to requirements, leaving for Alavés the next year. The rest of his career has largely played out in Spain, with stops at Elche, Cádiz, and more stints with Deportivo, where he amassed 62 goals and 53 assists in 172 games in total.
PSV were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League last 16 earlier this month. Pérez had joined too late to be registered for the competition and did not face his former side.
We wish him a speedy and full recovery.