A top-flight Colombian footballer has died after collapsing during training.

Defensive midfielder Andres Felipe Balanta Cifuentes passed away in San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, on 29th November.

The 22-year-old was signed to top-flight Colombian side Deportivo Cali in his home city but had been on loan to top-flight Argentine side Atletico Tucuman since June.

According to reports, Balanta died upon arriving at hospital in San Miguel de Tucuman after resuscitation manoeuvres and defibrillation for more than 40 minutes proved fruitless.

Local media revealed that he had fainted once before while playing for Deportivo Cali in 2019, but medical tests at the time had failed to find anything abnormal.

During his short professional career, Balanta scored four goals for Deportivo Cali and made appearances with his national team’s U17, U20, and U23 sides.

He made his debut for Deportivo Cali’s senior side in 2018.

Atletico Tucuman said in a statement: “Atletico Tucuman regrets to confirm the death of Colombian soccer player Andres Balanta.

“We embrace and accompany his family and friends with deep respect at this time.”

Balanta’s cause of death was given as a cardiac arrest.