Eriksen parts ways with Wolfsburg after second cardiac collapse in five years

Christian Eriksen has left Wolfsburg by mutual consent, the German club confirmed, three months after the Danish midfielder collapsed on the pitch during an international friendly against Ukraine in June. His contract, which had been due to run until the end of June 2027, was terminated early at the player’s request.

Eriksen suffered the episode when his implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) detected a dangerous arrhythmia and delivered a corrective shock, causing him to briefly lose consciousness. He was able to walk off the pitch under his own power before being taken to hospital. The incident came five years after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 during Denmark’s group-stage match against Finland in June 2021, when his heart stopped for roughly five minutes and he required CPR from team-mate and then-captain Simon Kjaer before a defibrillator was used on the pitch at Parken in Copenhagen.

It remains unclear whether Eriksen intends to continue playing. In a statement, he pointed to personal reasons for the decision. “At the moment, it is important for me to be close to my family in Denmark,” he said. “I’m pleased that we were able to find a solution together.”

Eriksen spent one season at Wolfsburg, making 34 appearances and being handed the captaincy. He scored three goals and registered 10 assists, but his influence could not prevent the club suffering 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,” Eriksen 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 said the club had been determined to let Eriksen make the call on his own future. “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,” Hecking said. “Despite his short time here, he has left a lasting impression on his teammates, our staff and the club.”