After a successful 12-year career at Anfield, Jordan Henderson, at the age of 33, has decided to move on. During his time at Liverpool, he achieved great success, winning every major trophy. Henderson has now finalized a three-year deal with Ettifaq, reportedly earning up to £700,000 a week.
Yesterday, Henderson bid farewell to the fans of Liverpool through a heartfelt message on Instagram. After the announcement of his signing with Ettifaq, he took to the platform once again to express his delight. He wrote, “Delighted to announce I’ve signed for @ettifaq. New challenge ahead, can’t wait to get going. Welcome to Saudi Arabia.”
Liverpool will receive an initial £12 million for Henderson’s transfer to the Saudi Pro League club. This move will also see him reunite with his former teammate Steven Gerrard, who is currently the manager of Ettifaq.
Al-Ettifaq vice-president Professor Hatem Al-Mishal commented on the addition of Henderson to the team, stating, “There is no doubt that Henderson is a distinguished addition. We completed the deal after the recommendation of sports director Elko Chatori and the technical staff led by English coach Steven Gerrard, who accompanied him as a player and knows his capabilities.”
Although a fan video of Henderson training with his new teammates in Croatia was quickly deleted, it caused some embarrassment for Liverpool.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed his appreciation for Henderson, saying, “I know it was a really, really tough decision for Hendo and I was around or with him all the way… It’s sad, absolutely strange, because he is the only captain I had here at Liverpool, but I think it is exciting for him as well. We will miss him, without a shadow of a doubt, that’s clear – as a man and as a player. But, as I said, that’s football.”
However, Henderson’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia has faced criticism due to the country’s stance on LGBT+ issues and the Rainbow Laces campaign. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, and the nation is accused of numerous human rights violations. In a video montage announcing Henderson’s arrival, the images of him wearing the captain’s armband with the LGBT+ rainbow and UEFA’s No to Racism were greyed out.
Amnesty’s UK economic affairs director Peter Frankental urged Henderson to examine Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and use his platform to speak out against violations. Pride in Football, a network of LGBT+ fan groups, expressed disappointment in Henderson’s decision, stating that it has caused him to lose the respect of many who valued him as an ally.
Henderson now joins a growing list of players moving to Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe reportedly refused to meet with Al-Hilal officials after his club accepted a world-record transfer fee for his move. It is believed that Mbappe has already agreed to a free transfer to Real Madrid, although there has been speculation about him potentially joining the Premier League.
While the financial implications of Mbappe’s potential move are significant, it remains uncertain which club he will ultimately join.
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