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Ajax have confirmed the signing of Jordan Henderson on a two-and-a-half year deal, following the termination of his contract with Al-Ettifaq which ended his nightmare spell in Saudi Arabia.
The 33-year-old made a hasty exit from the Saudi Pro League side after failing to settle in the country since leaving Liverpool last summer.
Shortly after his signing was announced, the England international took to social media to thank his former teammates and fans and explain his decision to leave the Saudi club.
‘I’m sad to say that I will be leaving Al-Ettifaq with immediate effect.’ He wrote on X, formerly Twitter. ‘It wasn’t an easy decision but one that I feel is best for me and my family.
‘I want to take this opportunity to thank the club & the fans for all the support during my time. I really felt the love from Day One. I’ll keep watching & hoping for your success. Good luck for the future.’
Jordan Henderson has ended his brief stint in Saudi Arabia after agreeing to join Ajax on a free transfer
Ajax announced the marquee capture in a video that lauded his abilities as a leader and comfort playing in ‘red and white’ – owing to his early days with boyhood club Sunderland.
Ajax interim boss John van’t Schip told the club’s website: ‘We wanted an experienced midfielder with leadership qualities. Partially due to injuries in the team, we were looking for someone who could step in immediately. Jordan Henderson is that type of player.
‘His arrival means a huge enhancement for our squad. Both on and off the pitch, a football player of this calibre is important for our many young players.
‘He’s an English international player and has won the Champions League and many other prizes with Liverpool. I am happy he’s here.’
Henderson underwent his medical in Amsterdam on Thursday after positive talks with Al-Ettifaq over a contract termination at the club’s winter training camp in Abu Dhabi.
The ex-Liverpool skipper represented himself during the negotiations and it is understood Ajax were are looking to offer him an 18-month deal with the option for a further 12, which could be tweaked into a permanent two-and-a-half year deal.
His signing comes after The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that the player did not receive a penny of his mouth-watering £350,000-a-week wages at Al-Ettifaq, having deferred payments in the last six months.
Worse still, the report suggested that according to certain sources close to the player, there is a belief that Henderson will never be paid what he is owed.
It is thought that the reason for deferring his wages was done for tax reasons, reportedly having done so in part to return to the UK and represent England.
UK law stipulates that any person that spends more than 90 days in the country is considered a resident for tax purposes.
Henderson said that he decision to leave the Saudi cub was best for both him and his family
Ajax have rocketed up the Eredivisie table following the appointment of interim boss John van’t Schip
The Telegraph added that the player is thought to have been advised he was due three weeks pro rata in the UK in order to still be considered a non-resident, with the limit on his ability to spend time back home a key reason for the deferral.
As such, he is still to see a penny of the money he earned during his brief spell in Saudi Arabia, and sources claim it is unlikely he ever will.
The move to Ajax will involve a substantial cut in Henderson’s £350,000-a-week wages and also cost him millions in bills, as he will now be obliged to pay back tax on the first six months of his contract with Al-Ettifaq.
The England international joins a side that have rallied since their dismal start to the campaign to sit fifth in the Dutch top-flight.
Henderson could make his debut when Ajax welcome RKC Waalwijk to the Johan Cruyff Arena on Sunday.