Brentford confirm Christian Eriksen signing on six-month deal as midfielder makes Premier League return

Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP31 January 2022

Christian Eriksen has completed a sensational return to the Premier League, joining Brentford on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Eriksen "died for five minutes" after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during Denmark's Euro 2020 match against Finland in June, prompting fears he would never play again.

But seven months later, he has joined the Bees as a free agent following his release by Inter Milan, with the deal not thought to include an option to extend beyond this season.

The former Tottenham playmaker's contract with Inter was terminated in mid-December after he was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device (ICD), which are banned in Italy's Serie A, but he was determined to keep playing and has targeted representing Denmark at next winter's World Cup in Qatar.

Once it became clear he could not continue playing in Italy, Eriksen prioritised a return to the Premier League and specifically London.

He was discussed by Spurs but they were among a number of clubs who had reservations about signing the 29-year-old.

Eriksen is due at Brentford in a few days and will not begin training with his new club until next week, so he is not in contention to make his debut in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Everton.

Eriksen, who has been training with his former club Ajax, passed a series of stringent medical examinations and his return was signed-off by a sports cardiologist.

Brentford director of football Phil Giles said: “Naturally the process of signing Christian was more elongated than most transfers. I understand that many people will have questions about the process. In order to respect Christian’s medical confidentiality, we won’t be going into any details.

“Brentford fans can rest assured that we have undertaken significant due diligence to ensure that Christian is in the best possible shape to return to competitive football. Now Christian has made the decision to sign for Brentford, all parties want to focus fully on football."

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who coached Eriksen for Denmark's U-17 side, said: “We have taken an unbelievable opportunity to bring a world-class player to Brentford.

In Pictures | Christian Eriksen

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“He hasn’t trained with a team for seven months but has done a lot of work on his own. He is fit but we will need to get him match fit and I am looking forward to seeing him work with the players and staff to get back towards his highest level.”

“At his best, Christian has the ability to dictate games of football. He can find the right passes and is a goal threat. He also has very, very good set piece delivery, both from corners and direct free kicks. He is a player you can find with the ball, and he will come up with a solution to the problem in front of him. Christian will also bring experience of top level football to the Club. I expect him to have an impact in the dressing room and at the training ground."

Announcing the deal, Brentford said Eriksen would not be due in the UK until later in the week to comply with Covid travel regulations: "The move was completed with the midfield player still in the Netherlands. Christian has recently received his COVID-19 vaccination and, in order to comply with rules regarding entry to the UK, he will travel to West London in the coming days and will not train with Brentford this week."

Eriksen spent five years with Ajax – winning three league titles, a Dutch Cup and a Dutch Super Cup – before signing for Spurs in 2013.

He played 226 League games for the north London club in six-and-a-half years but declined to sign a new contract and joined Inter for around £17million in January 2020.

The five-time Danish Footballer of the Year won the Serie A under Antonio Conte, who is now in charge at Spurs, in an 18-month spell with the Nerazzurri.

After Saturday's visit to Goodison Park, Brentford face Manchester City midweek before London derbies against Crystal Palace and Arsenal. Spurs are due at Griffin Park on April 23.

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