Jordan Henderson Set to Join Ajax After Leaving Al Ettifaq
England international Jordan Henderson has reached an agreement with Al Ettifaq to terminate his three-year contract and is on the verge of joining Ajax on a permanent basis. Henderson, who signed the contract last summer, is currently in the process of finalizing the termination and is flying back to the UK from Ettifaq’s winter training camp in Abu Dhabi.
The move to Ajax is still pending paperwork and details that need to be sorted out before the 33-year-old former Liverpool midfielder can complete his return to European football. Henderson’s departure from Saudi Arabia comes just six months after his move from Anfield.
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Henderson defended his decision to move to Saudi Arabia, stating that he wanted to achieve something special and help build a club and league. During his time at Al Ettifaq, he played 17 matches and provided four assists under the management of his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard.
Henderson’s move to Ajax comes at a time when the Dutch club is experiencing a resurgence. After a disappointing season last year, Ajax started this season poorly but has seen significant improvement under interim head coach John van ‘t Schip. They are currently unbeaten in the league since his appointment and have risen to fifth place.
It remains to be seen how Henderson will contribute to Ajax’s quest for success in the Eredivisie. The club is currently 23 points behind league leaders PSV and 11 points behind second-placed Feyenoord, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
The transfer of high-profile players to Saudi Arabia has been a trend since the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) took control of four teams in the Saudi Pro League. Players like Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have also made the move from European football to the Gulf state.
Overall, Henderson’s move to Ajax marks an exciting new chapter in his career as he looks to make a significant impact in the Eredivisie and help the club achieve their goals.