Christian Eriksen has Wolfsburg contract terminated after second collapse

Christian Eriksen has left Wolfsburg by mutual consent, three months after collapsing while playing for Denmark . The 34-year-old midfielder spent one season at the German club and his contract was due to expire at the end of June 2027, but both club and player have agreed to part ways ahead of schedule. Eriksen suffered a heart episode during an international friendly against Ukraine in June, collapsing on the field after his implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) detected dangerous arrhythmia and gave him a corrective shock. He briefly lost consciousness but after being treated, he was able to walk himself off the pitch before being taken to hospital. The incident came five years after Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 during Denmark’s group stage match against Finland in June 2021, when his heart stopped for roughly five minutes. Eriksen received immediate CPR from team-mate and then-captain Simon Kjaer, which proved invaluable in saving his life, before a defibrillator was used on the pitch at Parken in Copenhagen. It is unclear if Eriksen plans to continue playing but he leaves Wolfsburg with a desire to return to his homeland for personal reasons. “At the moment, it is important for me to be close to my family in Denmark,” Eriksen said in a statement. I’m pleased that we were able to find a solution together.” Eriksen leaves Wolfsburg after a season which saw him make 34 appearances and become captain, scoring three goals and assisting 10 more. However, his influence could not save the club from a historic first relegation from the top flight in 29 years via the play-offs. “My time in Wolfsburg was marked by many highs and lows,” he added. “I know that the club is now in good hands as it aims to make its way back to the Bundesliga, and I am convinced that a successful future lies ahead for VfL. “I would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported me during my time at VfL and in Wolfsburg. It was a great pleasure for me to play for you, and I will look back fondly on this period.” Wolfsburg managing director Dieter Hecking added: “For us, it was clear that the decision about his future had to be Christian’s. We wanted to give him that freedom in this particular situation and have now agreed to his request to terminate the contract. “He has already experienced and achieved a great deal during his extraordinary career. That makes it all the more remarkable how approachable and down-to-earth we came to know him at VfL. “Despite his short time here, he has left a lasting impression on his teammates, our staff and the fans. We would like to thank Christian and wish him and his family all the very best.”