Soccer

Christian Eriksen agrees to Manchester United move on three-year contract

Danish playmaker was out of contract after playing with Brentford last season

Christian Eriksen has joined Manchester United on a three-year contract. Photograph: Christian Bruna/EPA
Christian Eriksen has joined Manchester United on a three-year contract. Photograph: Christian Bruna/EPA
Fabrizio Romano
Mon Jul 04 2022 - 14:37

Christian Eriksen has agreed to join Manchester United on a three-year deal after talks with Erik ten Hag. The Denmark midfielder, who spent the final four months of last season at Brentford and is out of contract, has reached a verbal agreement and the move is subject to a medical.

Eriksen returned to action in February after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 eight months earlier and Brentford had hoped to keep him. But the 30-year-old has opted for United and communicated his decision to both clubs on Monday.

The former Tottenham player impressed during 10 starts and one substitute appearance for Brentford in the Premier League, scoring once and providing four assists. On Monday United were also close to confirming the signing of the left back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, with the Netherlands international undergoing the final part of his medical.

The moves come as Cristiano Ronaldo, who wants to leave Old Trafford, missed his scheduled return to pre-season training for family reasons. Unhappiness over United’s summer transfer business is at the root of the 37-year-old’s desire to move, though United continue to insist he is not for sale.

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Ten Hag is trying to make several signings in his first window as manager, with Barcelona’s midfielder Frenkie de Jong and the Ajax central defender Lisandro Martínez among other targets.

Eriksen spent six and a half seasons with Spurs before joining Inter Milan, who released him last December because the rules in Italy do not allow players to compete if they have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device (ICD). He was fitted with one after his cardiac arrest. Eriksen and Ten Hag spent several years at Ajax, Eriksen as a player until 2013 and Ten Hag as a coach from 2017. − Guardian