Christian Eriksen has agreed to join Manchester United on a three-year contract following talks with Erik ten Hag. The Danish midfielder, who spent the last four months of last season at Brentford and has no contract, has reached a verbal agreement and the transfer is subject to a medical examination.
Eriksen returned to action in February after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 eight months earlier and Brentford hoped to keep him. But the 30-year-old has opted for United and on Monday communicated his decision to both clubs.
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The former Tottenham player impressed for 10 starts and a Brentford substitute appearance in the Premier League, scoring once and giving up four assists. On Monday, United were also on the verge of confirming the signing of left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, with the Dutch international undergoing the final part of the medical examination.
The moves come when Cristiano Ronaldo, who wants to leave Old Trafford, missed his scheduled return to pre-season training for family reasons. Unhappiness with United’s summer transfer deal is at the root of the 37-year-old’s desire to move, although United continue to insist he is not for sale.
Ten Hag is trying to make several signings in his first window as a coach, with Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ajax center-back Lisandro MartÃnez among other targets.
Eriksen spent six and a half seasons with the Spurs before joining Internazionale, who let him go last December because the rules in Italy do not allow players to compete if they have an implantable cardioversive defibrillator (ICD) device. They put one on him 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 since 2017.