Former Premier League star Royston Drenthe rushed to hospital after suffering stroke

Former Premier League star Royston Drenthe has been rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke. Drenthe, 38, suffered the medical emergency on Friday and was immediately taken to hospital.

The Dutchman's condition remains unknown at present, but it's reported that Drenthe is in "good hands", with medics providing "excellent care" for him. Healthcare professionals are also optimistic about a "smooth recovery." The cause of the stroke remains unclear.

A statement from FC De Rebellen, a club for "the most rebellious, versatile and controversial former footballers from the Netherlands and Belgium", read: "Last Friday, Royston Drenthe suffered a stroke.

"Drenthe is currently being taken good care of and is in good hands. The team and those involved are hoping for a smooth recovery.

"Royston's family is asking for peace and privacy during this period so they can provide him with the support and space he needs for his recovery."

Drenthe burst onto the scene at Feyenoord as a rapid left winger before securing a transfer to Real Madrid in 2007.

He stayed at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2012, but featured in just 65 matches, spending periods on loan at Spanish outfit Hercules and Everton during the 2011/12 campaign.

At Goodison Park, Drenthe netted four times in 27 appearances. He also enjoyed subsequent stints at Reading and Sheffield Wednesday.

Drenthe made one cap for the Netherlands before retiring from football in 2023. He has since worked on Spanish and Dutch TV as a pundit.

He declared bankruptcy in 2020 and previously opened up about losing the millions he earned from playing football.

"I felt like a god at Real Madrid, playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, and I am proud of it," Drenthe said. "But I also liked to party hard in this world of glitter and glamour. I used to drink a lot even though I had to train the next day.

"In my first year with them I earned £1.4million, and received another £430,000 as a signing-on bonus.

"But I am not a rich man. I squandered the money on holidays and nice cars. Women have also been a very big reason for the money disappearing."