Man Utd midfielder expecting summer exit & reveals options for next move | OneFootball

Christian Eriksen has confirmed he is expecting to leave Manchester United at the end of the season, with his contract at Old Trafford now in its final months.

Eriksen joined United as a free agent in the summer of 2022, having spent the first half of that year making a remarkable professional comeback with Brentford following a near fatal cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.

The Denmark legend was initially a key player but has occupied more of a fringe role over the last 18 months, primarily due to a combination of injuries and age as he hits the tail-end of his career.

As free agency looms, Eriksen has spoken to Danish publication Tipsbladet about what comes next.

"My intention isn't to stay in England," the 33-year-old explained.

"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."

Eriksen confirmed that no "firm decisions" about where he might be playing in 2025/26 have been made: "Careers don't always follow a set plan. I don't have a checklist of things I need to do - I'll see what comes and what's best for me and my family."

A possible return to Ajax, the club where Eriksen first rose to prominence as a teenager, hasn't been ruled out and he is keeping his options as open as possible, within a few key parameters.

Eriksen has played more of a fringe role since 2023 / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Aside from preferring to leave England, the midfielder is also resistant to Major League Soccer in the United States, reasoning: "We won't travel that far." That could also rule out the Saudi Pro League, or indeed any other opportunities outside Europe.

Eriksen doesn’t fancy a return home to Denmark either, saying it's "too early" and that he has "good years left abroad", at least suggesting it could become an option in years to come.

"In Denmark, players often return to focus on family and end their careers that way, but I don't feel like I’m there yet," he said. "It's purely about football and where my career stands now. Honestly, I've spent more time abroad than in Denmark during my career, so moving home would almost feel like moving to a new country. But we're not there yet.

"Often, moving home is a practical choice rather than a footballing one. The love for the game stays the same no matter where you play. But for me, I still have the ambition to compete at the highest level, be part of the national team, and play at my best. So I don't feel like it’s time to go home yet."

Eriksen was one of six United players tipped to leave this summer alongside the far more youthful midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.