Jamal Musiala's Seizure Condition Explained: Bayern's Response

Jamal Musiala had barely stepped onto the pitch before the worry returned.

Eight minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in Bayern Munich’s pre-season friendly against Heidenheim on Tuesday, the 23-year-old collapsed – the second time in four days, and in scenes chillingly similar to those against RB Leipzig on Saturday. Team-mates rushed over again, Harry Kane among the first to comfort him.

This time, though, there was an explanation.

Musiala later revealed he is dealing with “easily treatable absence seizures”, caused by a form of “neurological dysfunction”. A frightening sight for those watching. A condition he says has become part of his everyday life.

Bayern knew – but the pitch told a different story

Inside Bayern, this wasn’t entirely new. The club have confirmed there were signs of Musiala’s condition even before the World Cup, although it had not affected his ability to play.

Honorary president Uli Hoeness told Sky Sports: “We have been aware of the problems for some time. But last weekend against Leipzig was the first time it happened on the pitch and was visible to everyone.

“We thought that if it didn't happen again so quickly, the medication he is taking would help. But when it happened again four days later, in the same way, I was stunned.”

Many supporters were stunned too – and angry. Why was Musiala back on the pitch so soon after fainting on Saturday?

Bayern moved quickly to defend that decision. Hoeness stressed the club only allowed him to play after receiving explicit medical clearance.

“We've already taken precautions,” he said. “The doctors treating him, the neurologists and specialists, have provided us with written confirmation – because this was absolutely essential for us – that, in their view, there are no concerns regarding Jamal taking part in high-performance sport.

“Without that, we would have been acting negligently. Since we've had this written confirmation, we've been sleeping a little more soundly.

“But I must say, I'm rarely at a loss for words or without a clear solution. We'll have to feel our way through this new situation first.”

Kane: “He has our full support”

Inside the dressing room, the reaction has been more personal than procedural.

“Jamal is obviously going through a bit of a difficult moment right now,” Kane told BBC Sport on Wednesday. “I know he posted on social media about the small condition he has and from our point of view it is just about supporting Jamal.

“He is going through something that not everyone goes through, but there are also people who have dealt with it before and he is doing everything possible to be his best version.”

Kane underlined Musiala’s importance to Bayern – and the sense of frustration for a player who has already endured a brutal run of injuries.

“He is a great player, extremely talented,” Kane said. “He is a big part of our team. We feel really sorry for him and frustrated for him when things happen like they do in the last couple of games.

“He has the full support from everyone here at Bayern and his friends and family, and we will be there to help him deal with it.

“He came off the back of a tough injury last season, I know how much he works behind the scenes and on the training pitch. From our point of view it is just to be there to support him and not just from my point of view, but the whole team as well.”

What are absence seizures?

The term sounds clinical. The reality can be unnerving.

Absence seizures are a type of generalised seizure, most often seen in children and young adults. They come in two forms: typical and atypical.

Dr Meneka Sidhu, consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, explains that typical absence seizures usually last only seconds. To an observer, the person may simply look as if they are daydreaming or staring blankly.

In an absence seizure, there is a varying degree of loss of awareness. The person can lose balance and become unresponsive during the episode.

“It can be very short-lasting, and the person can continue like nothing happened,” Dr Sidhu said. With atypical absences, which last longer, people “may have automatic movements like fidgeting with their hands, eyelid fluttering and lip smacking. Some people may fall.”

Repeated absence seizures over more than 24 hours can indicate epilepsy. Medication can control the episodes, and that is where Musiala now finds himself – treating a condition that, crucially for an elite athlete, does not automatically end a sporting career.

“For anybody affected by epilepsy, it is important to try to identify triggers,” Dr Sidhu added. “For people who play sport, triggers may include hyperventilation and dehydration.

“When effectively treated, there is no reason absence seizures should stop anyone playing sport.”

There is precedent at the highest level. Rugby player Tommy Freeman began having absence seizures at 14, was later diagnosed with epilepsy and now manages the condition with tablets while playing for Northampton and England.

A cruel run of setbacks

For Musiala, the diagnosis lands on top of an already punishing 18 months.

His 2024-25 campaign ended in early April because of injury. Just over a week later, he was involved in a serious traffic accident. He still fought his way back, returning two months later to feature at the Fifa Club World Cup.

That tournament brought another blow. In the quarter-final against Paris St-Germain, Musiala suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle after colliding with Gianluigi Donnarumma. He was out for 196 days.

When he did finally return, it was with a metal plate in his foot. He played with it from January through to the end of this summer’s World Cup in North America, where he made four appearances for Germany. The plate was only removed in July, limiting his pre-season training and leaving him short of rhythm heading into the new campaign.

“Musiala hasn't been much of a factor in the past 18 months,” German football expert Constantin Eckner said. “He came back for the Club World Cup but suffered a broken leg when he collided with Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“It took him months to recover from that. He just had a metal plate removed from his left foot so he played with that for half a year and had to deal with ankle issues.

“Naturally, his performances left much to be desired. The start to the upcoming season would have been difficult anyway, because he didn't take part in team training for some time due to the surgery in which the plate was removed. Now, there's another stumbling block.”

Bayern’s insurance policy – and a brutal reality

Bayern’s summer business reflects that concern. The club spent £43m on Morocco attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari, a move Eckner believes was partly driven by doubts over Musiala’s availability.

“Musiala is Bayern's top earner alongside Harry Kane, but his contribution hasn't been anywhere close to Kane's,” Eckner said. “He is still young and things can change again.

“He has a release clause in his contract that could be triggered next summer, but the fee would be in the nine digits. It is unrealistic that any club would be willing to pay that for him at the moment.”

So Bayern wait. They lean on neurologists’ letters and specialist advice, on medication plans and load management. They lean, too, on the resilience of a 23-year-old who has already carried the weight of a club and a country.

The question now is not whether Jamal Musiala is good enough. It is whether his body – and this new, manageable but unpredictable condition – will finally allow his talent to breathe.