The English midfielder spent only six months in Saudi Arabia playing for Al Ettifaq and is now returning to Europe.
Six months after leaving Liverpool to join Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, Jordan Henderson is set to leave Saudi Arabia and return to European football through Ajax.
The confirmation comes from Fabrizio Romano, a transfer market specialist, who reports that the 33-year-old midfielder will travel to Amsterdam in the next few hours, where he will undergo the necessary medical examinations and sign a contract with the Dutch giants.
Waiting for the English international is a contract with Ajax, which is valid until June 2026. Ajax is currently in fifth place in the Eredivisie, trailing the leader PSV by 23 points. During his brief stint at Al Ettifaq, Henderson recorded five assists in 19 games played.
According to "The Athletic," to avoid taxation when returning to England, Henderson needs to continue residing outside the country until 2025. This would ensure compliance with the tax exemption rule for non-UK residents: from the day of departure until the end of the remaining fiscal year and for the entire following fiscal year.
Henderson and his family faced difficulties adapting to life in Saudi Arabia. Their residence is located near the Bahrain border, approximately one hour away from the club.
During his time in Saudi Arabia, Henderson played 19 games, providing five assists but scoring no goals. Currently, Al-Ettifaq is in eighth place in the Saudi Professional League (Sauditão), trailing the league leader Al-Hilal, led by coach Jorge Jesus, by 28 points.
On the other hand, Ajax is staging a comeback in the Dutch Eredivisie. After a poor start with consecutive setbacks, the club has gained momentum and now sits in fifth place. However, they still have a considerable gap to close to reach third-placed Twente (nine points behind), which would secure a playoff spot for the Champions League. Winning the title seems nearly impossible as PSV has won all 17 of their matches and opened up a 23-point lead over Ajax.
