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Jordan Henderson admitted the past six months have been difficult for him as he joined Ajax after Saudi club Al-Ettifaq agreed to terminate his contract.
Henderson moved to Al-Ettifaq from Liverpool on a three-year contract last summer, and his decision to go to Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relationships are illegal, caused controversy in the UK as he had previously been a high-profile supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
He subsequently apologised for any hurt caused, but was booed off the pitch at Wembley during an England friendly against Australia in October.
Steven Gerrard-controlled Al-Ettifaq showed it had reached an out-of-court settlement with the 33-year-old to leave the club, and Ajax announced on Thursday that the England midfielder had signed a two-and-a-half-year deal. Half-year contract. Take care of the Amsterdam team.
It will be released at 13:00 (GMT) on Friday.
Henderson, who captained Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League success, hopes the move to Ajax proves beneficial for both himself and the club.
He told the official Ajax website: “It’s been a difficult year or so for the club, both on and off the field, but that’s the same for me in the past six months.
“I need to perform at the highest level!” ?
– @JHenderson –
– AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) January 18, 2024
“So hopefully, we’ll be able to help each other come together and move forward and try to be as successful as possible in the near future.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind and crazy few days, but now I’m very excited to be here, to start a new chapter, a new adventure in my life and my career, and I’m very excited to be a component of this club.
“Once I knew that there was an opportunity, I was overexcited and really overwhelmed that this opportunity was there for me. It was something that I wanted to try and make happen.”
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Henderson added on Instagram: “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.”
The move to Ajax was finalised after Henderson, who has 81 caps for England, finalised his terms and underwent a medical on Thursday.
A Dutch club source said: “Ajax have reached an agreement with Jordan Henderson regarding his move to Amsterdam.
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— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) January 18, 2024
“The free agent, a former Sunderland and Liverpool player, has signed a contract at Ajax for a duration of two and a half years, until June 30, 2026. “
Henderson is unlikely to make his Ajax debut against RKC Waalwijk as he is still waiting for foreign clearance.
Ajax are in fifth place in the Eredivisie lately, having recovered from a poor start to the domestic campaign that saw former head coach Maurice Steijn leave after just 11 games in charge.
The move may bolster Henderson’s hopes of securing a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad this summer.
Ajax coach John van’t Schip said on the club’s website: “We were looking for an experienced midfielder with leadership qualities.
“Partly due to injuries within the team, we were looking for someone who could step in immediately. Jordan Henderson is that type of player.
“His arrival is a big improvement for our team. On and off the pitch, a footballer of this calibre is for our many young players.
“He’s a foreign player from England and he’s won the Champions League and many other awards with Liverpool. I’m glad you’re here.