Saudi Arabian exodus: Ajax push to land former Liverpool's Henderson

It only took Jordan Henderson six months in Saudi Arabia to realise that this is not where he wants to be. The former Liverpool captain generated a lot of controversy when he signed for Al Ettifaq in the summer, as he has always been a vocal figure for LGBTI rights. In order to sign for the Middle Eastern league, he agreed to his new club censoring the rainbow on his armbands. In an interview, he said he understood this out of respect for Islam.

Now, the situation has changed quite a bit. Shortly after some tabloids in the British press exposed the fact that he is keen to return to Europe, reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that Ajax are pushing to grant him his wish. At the moment, there is nothing agreed, although the Dutch side are determined to convince the Englishman's agents that a deal is possible.

It should be borne in mind that when he left the Premier League, he did so in a 14 million euro deal, so even if his club is one of those particularly blessed by his country's Public Fund, they will not look kindly on his investment ending in an early exit. Perhaps the solution would be a loan or a sale in which their coffers would be sufficiently compensated. The England international has a contract until 2026.

The source mentioned in the second paragraph of this report claims that talks took place on Tuesday afternoon, suggesting that Henderson is receptive and that a move away from Saudi Arabia is possible. If he does sign for Ajax, he will play in the Eredivisie and Conference League from the play-offs before the last 16. The Amsterdam side dropped to the third continental competition after finishing third in their Europa League group.

 

January 16, 2024