Wednesday’s Helan quits to follow his religion

Matthew Briggs

Jeremy Helan is to quit football at the age of 24 to devote himself to religion, according to a report on Sunday.

The Sheffield Star understands the Frenchman, who started the EFL Cup defeat at Cambridge last month, has decided to hang up his boots after pondering the decision for some time.

The Championship outfit have yet to confirm the news regarding Helan, whose contract is due to expire at the end of this season.

The left-sided player, a devout Muslim, was initially signed on a temporary basis by Dave Jones in November 2012, making his debut in a 2-0 home defeat to Leicester City.

However Helan, after impressing across two loan stints at Hillsborough, signed a four-year contract.

The former product of Manchester City’s youth system played 145 times for the Owls, scoring three goals, but he has decided to turn his back on the game.