In a surprising move, England midfielder Jordan Henderson has made the decision to terminate his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq after just six months. The talented midfielder has now signed with Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam, as confirmed by both clubs on Thursday.
Henderson, who had spent an impressive 12 years at Premier League giants Liverpool, joined Al-Ettifaq on a three-year deal. However, the midfielder felt it was best for him and his family to part ways with the Saudi club. Expressing his gratitude, Henderson stated, "I'm sad to say that I will be leaving Al-Ettifaq with immediate effect. It wasn't an easy decision but one that I feel is best for me and my family."
During his short stint at Al-Ettifaq, Henderson received immense support from the club and their fans. He acknowledged the love and expressed his well-wishes for their future success. With former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard as coach, Henderson made 17 league appearances for the Dammam-based club, who currently sit eighth in the standings.
On the same day that Henderson's departure was announced, Ajax Amsterdam confirmed that they had reached an agreement with the player for his transfer to Amsterdam. The Dutch club welcomed Henderson, highlighting that he had previously played for Al-Ettifaq.
Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq revealed that they had mutually agreed to terminate Henderson's contract with immediate effect. The club stated that the decision was reached amicably, marking the end of their relationship with the talented midfielder.
Interestingly, Henderson's move to Saudi Arabia had raised some controversy, as the country has strict laws against homosexuality. Henderson, known for his support of the LGBTQ+ community, faced criticism for his decision. He was even booed by fans during a friendly match between England and Australia at Wembley in October. In response to the backlash, Henderson shared his apologies and explained that his intention was never to harm anyone.
Now joining Ajax Amsterdam, Henderson hopes to make a fresh start in the Netherlands. However, the club's current standing hasn't been ideal, with Ajax placing fifth in the Eredivisie, a substantial 23 points behind league leaders PSV Eindhoven. It has been a disappointing season thus far for the 36-time champions, who haven't finished outside the top three since 2006. Furthermore, Ajax has also dropped down to the Europa Conference League after finishing third in their Europa League group.
Ajax's next league game is against RKC Waalwijk on Sunday, where Henderson will have his first opportunity to make an impact on the pitch for his new club. The fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how the experienced midfielder can contribute to Ajax's performance and help them climb the Eredivisie table.