English midfielder is aiming to secure a spot in the squad through a return to Europe. Ajax has officially confirmed the acquisition of Jordan Henderson following his departure from Al Ettifaq.
On Thursday evening, the Saudi Arabian club released a statement confirming Henderson’s exit and insisted that it wanted to be “respectful” of his desire to leave.
The 33-year-old departs after only six months of a three-year contract, which was worth a reported £350,000 a week after he made the controversial move to head to the Middle East from Liverpool last summer.
With Euro 2024 coming up and Ettifaq labouring in mid-table of the Saudi Pro League, Henderson pushed for a return to Europe and will see out the season with Dutch giants Ajax.
Henderson said in a statement: “I’d like to thank the club, the fans and all involved for the opportunity and wish them the best for the remainder of the season. A lot of hard work is going in which I know will pay off in the future.”
Ettifaq club president Samer Al Misehal added: “Firstly, the club would like to thank Jordan for his efforts and wish him the best for his future endeavours.
“We are always respectful of our players. The club and Jordan believe this quick decision, without any delay or further distraction, has been made for both the overall good of the club and for Jordan.”
Ajax endured a tough start to the season but a good run of results have returned them to the top five of the Eredivisie.
Manager John van ‘t Schip said: “We wanted an experienced midfielder with leadership qualities. Partly due to injuries, we were also looking for someone who can be there immediately. Jordan Henderson is such a player.
“His arrival is a major boost in quality for our squad. Both on and off the field, a footballer of this calibre is also important for our many young players. He is an England international and has won the Champions League and many other trophies with Liverpool. I am happy with his arrival and I think it is very good for our club that he is now an Ajax player.”
In Amsterdam, Henderson is set to don the No. 6 jersey.