11 months ago
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Jordan Henderson has agreed terms on leaving Al Ettifaq this month and is close to finalising a move to Ajax on a permanent transfer.
The 33-year-old only moved to Saudi Arabia, leaving Liverpool to sign a three-year deal with Al Ettifaq, managed by Steven Gerrard.
However, despite reportedly being paid an eye-watering £692,000-a-week, the England midfielder is not happy in his new surroundings and has been pushing for a return to Europe.
The Athletic report that he is close to getting his wish, coming to agreement with Al Ettifaq over an exit and agreeing terms with Ajax over a permanent move to the Dutch club.
His contract in Saudi Arabia will be terminated, with Al Ettifaq currently close to completing that process, allowing him to make the move to the Eredivisie.
Ajax have been recovering from a dreadful start to the season but still only sit fifth in the Eredivisie after a win at Go Ahead Eagles last weekend.
In terms of recognisable faces for Henderson in Amsterdam, former Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom and ex-Tottenham forward Steven Bergwijn are in the Ajax squad which is managed by John van’t Schip.
Henderson made 19 appearances for Al Ettifaq, scoring no goals, after making his £12m move from Anfield over the summer and will leave the club sitting eighth in the Saudi Pro League.
He has remained in contention for Gareth Southgate’s England squad despite moving to the much poorer standard of football, so will hope a switch to Ajax will give him an excellent chance of making the Three Lions squad for this summer’s European Championship.
It is a rapid U-turn from the former Sunderland man, who had spoken about an ambition to grow the club and the league into one of the best in the world when he moved to Saudi Arabia.
‘I had to make the decision on what was best for me and my family,’ Henderson told The Athletic in September. ‘So the football is the football side.
‘So do I go somewhere to try something new, to grow the game that I love in another country, and grow the league into one of the best in the world?
‘That excites me because I want to grow the sport all over the world. And that got me going, really.’
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