Updated at 16.14

ECUADOR INTERNATINAL CHRISTIAN Benitez has died at the age of 27 after suffering a heart attack.

The former Birmingham City forward, who spent the 2009/10 season on-loan in the Premier League, made his debut for Qatar Stars League outfit El Jaish on Sunday after a £10 million move from Club America and featured in the 2-0 victory over Qatar SC in the Sheikh Jassem Cup.

But, after being rushed to hospital suffering from severe stomach pain, he suffered a cardiac arrest which ultimately ended his life.

A statement from the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) read: “The FEF extends its heartfelt sympathies to the family, parents, wife, children and friends of Christian Benitez.”

Benitez’s international team-mate, Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia, took to Twitter in the aftermath of the news breaking to express disbelief.

Attaching a picture of the striker to his tweet, he wrote: “Brother why now. God is with you and your family.”

Benitez, nicknamed ‘Chucho’, began his career with El Nacional in his native Ecuador, before enjoying a spell in Mexico with Santos Laguna and a stint in the Premier League with Birmingham City.

He scored 24 goals in 58 appearances for his country during a distinguished international career.

First published at 15.07pm

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