A dream comeback for Christian Eriksen 0:34
(CNN) --
Christian Eriksen has signed a three-year deal with Manchester United, just over 12 months after suffering cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
The midfielder received life-saving treatment on the pitch after collapsing during Denmark's match against Finland in Copenhagen in June 2021.
But those harrowing images of his teammates forming a human shield around him as he was tended to on the pitch, and of his teammate running onto the pitch in tears, stand in stark contrast to where Eriksen finds himself today.
It has been an extraordinary recovery.
He was later fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a type of pacemaker intended to prevent fatal cardiac arrest by delivering a shock to restore regular heart rhythm.
Christian Eriksen: Denmark, Belgium and everyone in the stadium pay tribute to him in the 10th minute of the European Championship match
His former club, Inter Milan, terminated his contract - Serie A rules do not allow players to play in the Italian top division with an ICD installed - but he refused to give up his ambitions to return to the beautiful game. .
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The 30-year-old declared in January that his heart "wasn't an obstacle" and that same month he signed for Brentford, of the English Premier League.
He made his debut for the West London side in late February – 259 days after his drop – to rapturous applause when he came off the substitutes' bench in a home loss against Newcastle, before starting consecutive wins.
At his best, Eriksen is one of the most creative and effective midfielders in football.
United manager Erik Ten-Hag is undergoing a total makeover at Old Trafford, and fans are hoping players like Eriksen can overcome years of underperformance.
During his seven years at Tottenham, and his brief stint at Brentford, Eriksen made 237 Premier League appearances, scoring 52 goals and providing 71 assists.
Look at this great goal by Christian Eriksen: he wants to go to Qatar 0:31
The midfielder was called up 115 times by the Danish national team, with which he scored 38 goals.
"Manchester United is a special club, and I can't wait to get started," Eriksen said in a statement released on Friday.
"I've had the privilege of playing at Old Trafford many times, but to do it in a United red shirt will be an incredible feeling."
"I have seen Erik's work at Ajax and I know the level of detail and preparation that he and his team put into every day. It is clear that he is a fantastic manager," he added.
"Having spoken with him and learned more about his vision and the way he wants the team to play, I am even more excited about the future. I still have big ambitions in the game, there is a lot I know I can achieve, and this It's the perfect place to continue my journey," said the Dane.
Christian Eriksen Manchester United