Liverpool Captain Jordan Henderson Set to Join Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is set to leave the club’s training camp in Germany after a deal was agreed in principle between Liverpool and Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq. The midfielder will make the move to Al Ettifaq for a fee of £12 million, plus add-ons.
Henderson has already agreed to a three-year contract with Al Ettifaq, worth close to £700,000 ($917,000) per week. The Saudi Arabian club is managed by Henderson’s former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard.
However, the deal needed to be agreed upon by both clubs, as Henderson still had two years remaining on his current contract with Liverpool. Despite the impending move, Henderson traveled with his teammates to Germany but was not included in the squad for their recent game against Karlsruher.
Gerrard’s appointment as Al Ettifaq’s new manager played a significant role in driving the pursuit of Henderson. The midfielder has been a prominent leader off the pitch, championing support for the LGBTQI+ community and fans. However, the move to Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is illegal, has sparked criticism from Liverpool’s Kop Outs supporters’ group.
Henderson joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011 and became club captain after Gerrard’s departure in 2015. He has been a consistent presence in the Liverpool side, making 492 appearances in all competitions.
Liverpool’s midfield is undergoing a significant refresh this offseason, with the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. The club is also interested in Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure. Additionally, Liverpool has seen departures from James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who left at the end of their contracts in June.
The Saudi Pro League has become an attractive destination for several European stars following the Public Investment Fund’s takeover of Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy have all made moves to clubs in Saudi Arabia.
With the potential exits of Fabinho and Henderson, Liverpool’s midfield would be left with fewer options. While the club has made new signings, the loss of experience in midfield may need to be addressed with the addition of a specialist defensive midfielder. Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and Doucoure are among the players Liverpool retains an interest in.
Liverpool will need to make adjustments if they continue with their 3-4-3 system, where Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are expected to play key roles as attacking midfielders. Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will also play important roles, but the progress of these young players may be affected by the new signings.
Overall, Liverpool’s midfield may undergo additional changes in the coming weeks as they navigate the departure of Henderson and potentially Fabinho.