Jordan Henderson’s contentious trip to Saudi Arabia appears to be reaching an end.
According to an exclusive story from The Athletic, Jordan Henderson’s contract with Saudi club Al Ettifaq will be canceled.
The former Sunderland academy graduate had hoped to return to the Premier League, but will instead join Ajax, barely six months after joining for Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq under questionable circumstances. Henderson faced criticism from LGBTQ activists for moving to Saudi Arabia, citing his previous support for the group and Saudi Arabia’s sexuality laws.
According to an exclusive story from The Athletic, Jordan Henderson’s contract with Saudi club Al Ettifaq will be canceled.
The former Sunderland academy graduate had hoped to return to the Premier League, but will instead join Ajax, barely six months after joining for Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq under questionable circumstances. Henderson faced criticism from LGBTQ activists for moving to Saudi Arabia, citing his previous support for the group and Saudi Arabia’s sexuality laws.
The publication reports that Henderson has reached an agreement with Al Etiffaq to the leave Saudi Pro League club and that the club are in the process of finalising his contract termination. The Athletic have also stated that Henderson has agreed in principle to join Ajax with the deal now approaching competition.
Henderson has aspirations to be named in England’s European Championships squad under Gareth Southgate this summer. The midfielder came through the ranks at Sunderland, where he made 79 appearances, before signing for Liverpool in 2011, captaining The Reds to a Premier League title and Champions League triumph.
Henderson’s Saudi club Al Etiffaq are managed by former Liverpool teammate and ex-England captain Steven Gerrard with the club currently sitting eighth in the Saudi Pro League and without a win since October.