Christian Eriksen played for Tottenham from August 2013 to January 2020, making 305 appearances and scoring 69 goals in all competitions – more games than for any other club. His Spurs years brought records such as the 11-second goal against Manchester United, the most Premier League goals by a Dane and the 2019 Champions League final. This is his time in London: the move from Ajax, the partnership with Harry Kane, the Real Madrid talk and the move to Inter.
Christian Eriksen at Tottenham Hotspur: the 2013 move
Eriksen joined Tottenham Hotspur from Ajax on 30 August 2013 for a reported £11m (about €12.45m); Transfermarkt lists €14.15m. André Villas-Boas was the manager. He made his debut on 14 September 2013 in a 2-0 win over Norwich, setting up Gylfi Sigurdsson, and five days later scored his first Spurs goal in a 3-0 Europa League win over Tromsø. Tim Sherwood followed Villas-Boas, and Eriksen ended his first season with 10 goals in all competitions and the club’s Player of the Year award.
Records: 11 seconds against Manchester United and the top Danish scorer
On 23 September 2017 Eriksen scored his 33rd Premier League goal, against West Ham, passing Nicklas Bendtner as the highest-scoring Dane in the competition. On 31 January 2018 came his most famous goal: after about 11 seconds in a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Wembley. At the time it was the third-fastest goal in Premier League history, behind Ledley King and Alan Shearer – and his 50th for Spurs.
He was just as important as a creator. From 2015–16 to 2018–19 he recorded at least ten Premier League assists in four consecutive seasons, something only David Beckham had done before. In 2016–17 he made 15 league assists, second only to Kevin De Bruyne’s 18. When Tottenham Hotspur Stadium opened against Crystal Palace on 3 April 2019, he set up Son Heung-min for the first goal at the new ground and scored himself in his 200th Premier League game.
Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and the Pochettino years
Under Mauricio Pochettino Tottenham became one of England’s best sides, with much of the attack built on Harry Kane’s finishing and Eriksen’s passing, corners and free kicks. Kane won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2015–16 with 25 goals and in 2016–17 with 29 – the same seasons in which Eriksen was among the league’s most productive creators.
The partnership even produced a curious episode in spring 2018: Eriksen was first credited with both goals in a 2-1 win at Stoke, but the Premier League later gave the second to Kane after Tottenham appealed that the ball had touched his shoulder. Eriksen was named Spurs Player of the Year again in 2016–17, made the PFA Team of the Year in 2017–18 and won the Premier League Goal of the Month for April 2018.
Two finals: the 2015 League Cup and the 2019 Champions League
Eriksen reached two finals with Spurs. The first was the League Cup final at Wembley on 1 March 2015, won 2-0 by Chelsea. The biggest came four years later: on 1 June 2019 he started the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid, which Spurs lost 2-0. A year later he also lost the Europa League final with Inter, becoming the first player to lose Champions League and Europa League finals in consecutive seasons. Transfermarkt valued him at €100m in June 2019, the peak of his career.
Christian Eriksen and Real Madrid: the 2019 talk
As early as June 2015 Eriksen was linked with Manchester United, but he told reporters, according to The Independent (9 June 2015), that he felt “right at home at Tottenham”. By 2019 things had changed. After the Champions League final he told Ekstra Bladet that he would like to try something new, with only a year left on his contract.
In the following weeks Spanish outlets such as AS and El Confidencial reported interest from Real Madrid, and several reports said chairman Daniel Levy turned down a sale. These were reports, not confirmed negotiations – and no move followed. Eriksen stayed another half-season and joined Inter in January 2020.
Christian Eriksen Spurs stats season by season
He wore the number 23 shirt and played under four managers: Villas-Boas, Sherwood, Pochettino and José Mourinho. Career-wide figures are on the Christian Eriksen stats page.
| Season | Premier League (apps/goals) | All competitions (apps/goals) | Premier League assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | 25/7 | 36/10 | 8 |
| 2014–15 | 38/10 | 48/12 | – |
| 2015–16 | 35/6 | 47/8 | 13 |
| 2016–17 | 36/8 | 48/12 | 15 |
| 2017–18 | 37/10 | 47/14 | 10 |
| 2018–19 | 35/8 | 51/10 | 12 |
| 2019–20 | 20/2 | 28/3 | 2 |
| Total | 226/51 | 305/69 |
Sources: Wikipedia (games and goals), ESPN (assists). The 2014–15 assist figure is left out because databases disagree.
Leaving Spurs for Inter in January 2020
In his last half-season, with José Mourinho as his fourth Spurs manager, Eriksen made 20 Premier League appearances, and his contract was due to expire in summer 2020. On 28 January 2020 he joined Inter for a reported £16.9m (about €19.7m); Transfermarkt lists €27m. Read on at Christian Eriksen at Inter; his earlier years are on Christian Eriksen at Ajax, and every club is listed on the Christian Eriksen career page.
Christian Eriksen at Tottenham: FAQ
How many goals did Christian Eriksen score for Tottenham?
69 goals in 305 games in all competitions between 2013 and 2020, including 51 goals in 226 Premier League games.
What number did Christian Eriksen wear at Tottenham?
He wore number 23 throughout his six and a half years at Spurs. At Ajax he had worn number 8, and at Inter he wore 24.
How fast was Christian Eriksen’s goal against Manchester United?
About 11 seconds, on 31 January 2018 in Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Wembley. At the time it was the third-fastest goal in Premier League history.
Did Christian Eriksen nearly join Real Madrid?
It was reported in 2019. After the Champions League final he told Ekstra Bladet he would like to try something new, and Spanish media reported Real Madrid’s interest. No transfer happened, and he joined Inter in January 2020.
When did Christian Eriksen leave Tottenham?
On 28 January 2020, when he joined Inter – six months before his Tottenham contract was due to expire.
Did Christian Eriksen win a trophy with Tottenham?
No. He lost the 2015 League Cup final to Chelsea and the 2019 Champions League final to Liverpool. Individually he was Spurs Player of the Year in 2013–14 and 2016–17.