Ex-Arsenal star is ‘struck down by tuberculosis’ simply weeks after becoming a member of new membership and could also be out for the remainder of the season with the sickness
- Cases of tuberculosis have sharply risen across Europe in the last few years
- According to reports in the Netherlands, PSV striker has contracted the disease
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A former Arsenal player has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) just weeks after signing for PSV, according to reports from the Netherlands.
The disease, which usually affects the lungs, was largely considered to have been consigned to the Victoria era — particularly in the UK — due to inoculation.
However, TB cases have risen to alarming numbers over the last couple of years both in the UK and in Europe in general.
UK Health Security Agency figures show 5,480 people were struck by the bacterial infection in 2024 — a rise of 13 per cent on the previous year.
And now, according to respected Dutch new outlet De Telegraaf, Spanish striker Lucas Perez has contracted the illness — one month after terminating his contract at Deportivo La Coruna to join Eredivisie club PSV.
Perez has played twice for PSV since his move and TB has a long period of incubation before symptoms manifest themselves, during which time the patient is also contagious.
A former Arsenal player has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB)
Lucas Perez has played just two games for PSV since moving to the Dutch club one month ago
The Spaniard signed for Arsenal for £17million in 2016 but failed to settle in north London
Perez has spent most of his career at Deportivo where he scored 62 goals for the Spanish side
However, the Dutch report reveals that Perez was not yet at PSV during this period, therefore reducing the chance of spreading the infection to other players in the squad.
An active TB infection usually affects the lungs and the person must be isolated for three to four weeks and undergo a course of antibiotics.
Common symptoms typically include a long-lasting cough, feelings of exhaustion, high temperatures, a loss of appetite, weight loss and generally feeling unwell.
Perez, who signed for Arsenal for £17million in 2016, now faces a race to return in time for PSV’s final game of the season against Sparta Rotterdam on May 18.
The Spaniard failed to settle at the Emirates despite posting a respectable seven goals and five assists in 21 games in all competitions for the North London club.
Arsenal loaned Perez back to his hometown club, Deportivo in August 2017 before they sold him to West Ham the following summer.
He scored six goals in 19 appearances for the Hammers before they sold him a summer later to Spanish side Alaves.
Perez then bounced around from Elche to Cadiz and back to Deportivo for the fourth time in his career. Overall he has scored 62 goals and made 53 assists in 172 games for the Spanish side.
PSV were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League last 16 earlier this month but Perez was signed before the registration window for that competition so did not face his former team.
