Christian Eriksen has signed for Manchester United on a three-year deal and joined the Erik ten Hag revolution.
The Denmark playmaker signed for the Red Devils on a free transfer following the expiry of his short-term contract with Brentford.
After making a remarkable recovery from the cardiac arrest he suffered in last summer’s European Championships, the 30-year-old joined the Bees in January on a contract until the end of the season.
Despite Thomas Frank’s best efforts, the classy ball-playing technician opted to sign for Ten Hag over extending his stay with the side that he helped stay in the Premier League last season.
Manchester United’s free transfer signings
Signing players on free transfers isn’t something that regularly happens with the Reds and following Eriksen’s arrival, we thought it was time to have a look back at some of Manchester United’s previous high-profile free transfer signings.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
After four trophy-filled years in France with Paris Saint Germain, the then 34-year-old opted to join Jose Mourinho’s Reds on a free transfer in 2016.
In Ibrahimovic’s solitary full season at the club, the Reds won the League Cup and Europa League.
The Swedish legend scored two goals in our 3-2 win against Southampton in the League Cup final. Zlatan finished the campaign with 28 goals and 10 assists from 46 matches.
The charismatic striker would have scored a lot more had his season not been curtailed by a cruciate knee ligament injury, which he picked up in the Europa League quarter-finals against Anderlecht.
The following season Ibrahimovic scored one goal which came in a League Cup defeat against Bristol City before he headed for the MLS and joined LA Galaxy.
At the age of 40 and after undergoing knee surgery which will likely keep him out until next year, one of the games greats isn’t willing to retire just yet – as he has signed a new one-year deal with AC Milan.
He helped AC Milan win their first Scudetto in 11 years last season.
Laurent Blanc
Having won the World Cup and had spells with Napoli, Barcelona, Marseille and Napoli, Blanc joined United in 2001 at the age of 35.
Following the departure of Jaap Stam to Lazio which Sir Alex Ferguson later admitted was a mistake, Blanc was signed as the Dutchman’s replacement just four days later.
The Frenchman initially found it difficult adapting to the frantic pace and tempo of the Premier League during the latter stages of his career.
Blanc made 75 appearances for the Reds and won the Premier League in his last season as a player before calling time on his playing career and pursuing a coaching career.
Tom Heaton
Having come through the Manchester United Academy, the England international re-joined the Reds on a free transfer last summer, following his release from Aston Villa.
The former Burnley man made his senior Manchester United debut in December’s Champions League group stage clash against Young Boys where he came off the bench to replace Dean Henderson.
The 36-year-old is currently part of Ten Hag’s pre-season tour squad and has featured in both games against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory.
Mark Bosnich
United secured the signature of our former Australian keeper in 1999, who had made his debut for the club nine years earlier.
With Bosnich impressing at Aston Villa, Sir Alex brought the goalkeeper in to replace the big void left by Peter Schmeichel.
Although he signed a four-year contract, Bosnich, who made 38 appearances and won the Intercontinental Cup in 1999 and the Premier League in the following year, was sold to Chelsea.
Edinson Cavani
Following his release from PSG, El Matador embarked upon a new challenge and signed for the Reds in October 2020.
In his first season at Old Trafford, the Uruguayan scored 17 goals across all competitions and was convinced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to extend his contract by a further year.
However, a couple of weeks into the new season and Manchester United had re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo which meant Cavani handed over his number seven shirt to the returning hero and became a backup option.
The 35-year-old struggled with injuries throughout last season and only scored two goals. United’s former number 21 is currently on the lookout for a new club ahead of this winter’s World Cup.
Liam Miller
The late Republic of Ireland midfielder, who sadly passed away in 2018, signed a pre-agreement with United in January 2004 after failing to agree terms with Celtic.
Miller only spent two seasons at Old Trafford, scoring twice in 22 appearances.
Michael Owen
Following the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the summer of 2009 after losing the Champions League final against Barcelona, Owen signed for United following his departure from Newcastle and took on Ronaldo’s number seven jersey.
Owen showed his predatory instincts with a memorable injury-time winner in the Manchester derby to beat Mark Hughes’ Citizens 4-3 at Old Trafford.
Owen finished his United career with 17 goals in 52 appearances, one of which came in the League Cup final against Aston Villa.
He was also part of the side that won the 2010-11 Premier League trophy.
Victor Valdes
Valdes, who was part of the Spain squads that won the World Cup and European Championships, won 21 trophies during his time with Barcelona.
But after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury the Spanish stopper was surprisingly not offered a new deal, but the Nou Camp side signed Marc-André ter Stegen to replace Valdes as the club’s long-term number one.
Louis van Gaal knew Valdes well following their time together at Barca and in January 2015 the goalkeeper signed an 18-month contract and would be David de Gea’s understudy.
Valdes only made two appearances for the Reds and after a spell on loan with Standard Liege he would join Middlesbrough on a free transfer.
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