Jordan Henderson Prepares to Receive Damaging 75% Pay Cut Ahead of Joining Ajax
It has not been a pleasant stay in the Saudi Pro League for former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, as he is on the cusp of a return to European football with Dutch side Ajax after only spending six months in Saudi. According to the player, he claimed he was scared of being left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad if he stayed in Saudi Arabia and states it was the main driving force behind the move. While we could only take it from his own words, Jordan Henderson’s stay in Saudi was less than pleasant as his performance on the pitch and off the field caused controversies and displeasure from the fans, which could also factor into his departure.
Jordan Henderson’s Fall From Glory and Grace
Even before departing to Saudi, Jordan Henderson was a player who split fan bases as Liverpool fans claimed he was underrated and a proper successor to Steven Gerrard. On the other hand, rival fans failed to comprehend what he brought to the team when the Reds and England had quote better midfielders at their disposal.
After his move to join Al-Ettifaq with the objective of pioneering football in Saudi, his journey went to a horrid start as his comments about LGBTQ+ rights caused severe backlashing from the local community. For context, Jordan Henderson, a supporter of LGBTQ+, claimed that his move to the league was a positive, although homosexuality is illegal in the country. He stated: “We can all bury our heads in the sand and criticise different cultures and other countries from afar. But then nothing’s going to happen. Nothing’s going to change.”
His comments caused a massive reaction from the local community, with them branding Jordan Henderson disrespecting their culture. Although Jordan Henderson attempted to apologise, Joe White, the co-chair of Pride in Football and the co-founder of Three Lions Pride, claimed his comments did more harm than good. “His presence could actually be more harmful to local LGBT people. We saw it in Qatar at last year’s World Cup. It’s fine to say you support these things, but when he said nothing would change, it was actually more amplified in negativity.”
Jordan Henderson Set to Travel to Amsterdam Today to Finalise Deal
Disregarding his controversies off the pitch, Jordan Henderson’s performance on the field was less than satisfactory as the England midfielder failed to blend in with his teammates and his Liverpool predecessor Steven Gerrard’s tactics. Al-Ettifaq currently sits eighth in the Saudi Pro League, with crowds only reaching half-full in many of their games.
Fortunately for him, Ajax, who are struggling themselves, have thrown him a lifeline. Moreover, Jordan Henderson himself is adamant about leaving the club after convincing the Al-Ettifaq board through face-to-face talks. According to reports, all parties are currently ironing out the final details of the contract that will see Jordan Henderson join the Dutch giants after the England midfielder travelled to Amsterdam to complete the medical today.
As for transfer fees, Jordan Henderson is willing to take a 75% pay cut and forgo his mouth-watering £350,000-a-week wages, which report claims that he had not received payment for several months and may never will due to taxes. For context, UK law stipulates that any person who spends more than 90 days in the country is considered a resident for tax purposes. Nevertheless, this move for both parties could only bring positives, especially for Henderson, if he hopes to tarnish the bad legacy he left behind in Saudi.
Are European Superstars Underestimating the Saudi Pro League?
With Henderson’s departure and reports of Benzema and Roberto Firmino leaving in the coming future, the Saudi Pro League is proving much more difficult than they thought, as outside factors are crucial in on-field performance.
While players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrović continue to thrive, Neymar, to name one, is struggling to adapt to their new environment. Thus, it just speaks volumes that there is competition everywhere, and it is immature to gauge each league before experiencing it yourself.
For more footballing news in 2024, follow AsiaSport for daily updates and high-definition highlights of games from every league, including the Saudi Pro League we focused on today.
