Portuguese Primeira Liga club Boavista has confirmed that 19-year-old forward Edu Ferreira has been diagnosed with cancer.
The Porto native has been with Boavista since 2014, playing for the Under-19 side before making the step up to the senior squad this season.
Edu signed a two-year senior contract with the club in July, telling the club's official website that he was looking forward to "contributing on and off the field."
However, his breakthrough under coach Erwin Sanchez has been put on hold as he battles to recover from cancer.
The club, nicknamed the Panthers, has offered its full backing of the forward, stating that "Edu has the courage and the strength of the panther, as already shown several times on the field, and will surely win the game of his life".