Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen will continue his rehabilitation from a recent cardiac event in his home country, his club Wolfsburg announced. The decision comes despite warnings from medical experts who advise against elite athletes competing with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
Eriksen, 34, is under contract with the Bundesliga 2 side until next summer but did not join the team for the start of pre-season training. Wolfsburg confirmed that Eriksen will undertake an individual rehabilitation program in Denmark. "VfL is in regular contact with Christian as well as the treating physicians," the club stated. "For the course of his rehabilitation, we continue to wish Christian all the best."
The midfielder collapsed during Denmark's friendly match against Ukraine on June 7, experiencing a cardiac arrest. His ICD, implanted in 2021, intervened to restore his heart's rhythm. This incident occurred nearly five years after a similar event at Euro 2020.
Eriksen stated the following day that the situation was "different to 2021" and that he was "feeling good." He also expressed gratitude for the medical staff and the functioning of his ICD, noting his focus was on recovery, family time, and playing with his children.
However, medical professionals have cautioned against his return to professional football. Henning Molgaard, a Danish heart expert, told Danish outlet Bold that most elite athletes retire after ICD implantation, citing that competing with such a device is "highly unusual." He added that while the exact timing is unknown, "we know he will collapse again at some point."
Wolfsburg is scheduled to begin its league campaign on August 8 with a home match against Kaiserslautern.