Christian Eriksen, the Danish footballer who collapsed during a Euro 2020 game last year, is set to complete a remarkable return to the Premier League by signing for Brentford.
Sky Sports News reports that Eriksen is close to joining the west London club, just seven months after suffering a cardiac arrest in a game against Finland.
Eriksen left Inter Milan last month by mutual consent, after being suspended by the Italian medical authority from playing in Serie A due to a rule prohibiting the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device.
The 29-year-old had signed for the Italian giants in 2020 from Premier League side Tottenham, where he played for more than six years.
However, he has passed the required medical tests and is fit to play, and will become the first professional in England to play with an ICD fitted.
He had previously said that his heart condition is “not an obstacle” to playing, adding that athletes in England are left to work out their own risks.
Before heading to the Community Stadium, Eriksen had been training in Switzerland, as well as with his former side Ajax, preparing for a comeback.
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He joins fellow countryman Thomas Frank at Brentford, who manages the team, as well as international teammates Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen.
‘My goal is to play in the World Cup’
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Speaking to Danish media earlier this month, Eriksen revealed he died for about five minutes when he collapsed on the pitch last year, and that he aims to play in this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
“My goal is to play in the World Cup in Qatar. I want to play. That’s been my mindset all along. It’s a goal, a dream,” he said.
“Whether I’ll be picked is another thing, but it’s my dream to come back.
“Physically, I’m back in top shape. I want to prove I’ve moved on and that I can play on the national team again.”