Christian Eriksen, the 33-year-old Danish midfielder, has confirmed that while he is leaving Manchester United at the end of the season, he has yet to make any finalized decisions regarding his next club. Eriksen's journey with Manchester United began in the summer of 2022 after a six-month return to professional football with Brentford following his miraculous survival from a cardiac arrest during a game for Denmark in 2021.
During his time at Old Trafford, Eriksen has made 99 appearances, scored seven goals, and won the FA Cup under manager Erik ten Hag last season. His current contract terminates this summer, and Eriksen regrets to inform fans that it will not be extended. “I haven’t thought about it too much. Like last time, my contract expires in the summer, so I’m prepared to find something new. I’m fine with that—it’s not something I’ve decided yet,” he shared with Tipsbladet.dk.
Eriksen, who celebrated his 33rd birthday in February, is adamant that he feels he has more years left in him before considering retirement. However, he has ruled out returning to Denmark's Superliga, insisting that it is too soon for him to play there. “Not yet. It’s too early. I still feel like I have good years left abroad,” he stated. Additionally, he ruled out a move to Major League Soccer in the United States, expressing reluctance to travel that far.
Staying in the Premier League seems unlikely. When asked about the possibility of returning to Brentford, Eriksen offered a light-hearted response, “Haha, so that’s my only option? Whether it’s Brentford or not, I can’t say. But my intention isn’t to stay in England.” He emphasized, “This situation is different from when I was a free agent after my cardiac arrest. Back then, it was about proving I could still play. Now, it’s just about waiting for the right opportunity and not making hasty decisions. If something feels right, I’ll take it.”
Adding expert opinion to the discussion, Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel believes that a move back to Ajax would be ideal for the Danish player. Eriksen started his professional career with the Dutch club in 2008, and Schmeichel noted, “That [move to Ajax] would be a great step for him. Of course, as we know, he is a midfielder. Nowadays in the Premier League you need players who can sprint up and down for 90 minutes. The way Ruben Amorim wants to play also doesn’t suit him, he wants to win the ball back quickly. At a very high pace. That’s not in his nature.”
Nevertheless, Schmeichel acknowledged Eriksen's talent, saying, “He’s a great player. Some of the things he does on the field… He’s still so good on the ball and technically. I think Ajax would be a fantastic move for him.”
In parallel, Manchester United is gearing up for their upcoming season by announcing a pre-season friendly against arch-rivals Leeds United, scheduled for Saturday, July 19, 2025. This match will take place at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, formerly known as Friends Arena, kicking off at 15:00 CET (14:00 BST). This event marks United's return to the venue where they triumphed over Ajax in the 2017 UEFA Europa League final.
The connection between Manchester United and Sweden is significant, highlighted by the fact that three of United's players—Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and current captain Victor Lindelof—have previously captained the Swedish national side while playing for the club. Historically, fixtures between Manchester United and Leeds have been characterized by excitement, with 26 goals scored in their last six Premier League encounters.
Leeds United, managed by Daniel Farke, currently sits atop the Championship table and hopes to reignite their historic rivalry with Manchester United by aiming for a return to the Premier League next season. The last time United met Leeds was in a pre-season friendly in Oslo during the summer of 2023, where they came out on top with a 2-0 victory, with goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill.
Despite this competitive spirit, United’s connection to Sweden is also deeply rooted in memorable moments. Their prior visit to Sweden for pre-season preparations was in 2016 when they faced Galatasaray in Gothenburg, marking the debut of Ibrahimovic, who famously scored a bicycle kick just minutes into the match.
Tickets for the upcoming friendly will be available starting with a pre-sale at 09:00 GMT (10:00 CET) on Wednesday, followed by a general sale opening on Friday, March 21 at the same time. This friendly marks an exciting opportunity for fans and sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating 2025/26 season for Manchester United.
