Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has completed a momentous £13 million move to Al-Ettifaq, marking the end of his illustrious 12-year tenure at Anfield. The departure was officially confirmed by Liverpool on Thursday, paving the way for a new chapter in Henderson’s career. Reports suggest that the 33-year-old has signed a remarkable £700,000 per week contract with Al-Ettifaq, where he will be playing in Saudi Arabia under the mentorship of his former Liverpool teammate, the legendary Steven Gerrard. Gerrard took charge as Al-Ettifaq’s new manager at the beginning of the month, adding further significance to the reunion.
The Saudi Pro League has seen a surge of high-profile signings this summer, with the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Edouard Mendy opting to make the move to the Middle East. Henderson is the latest addition to this trend, and Gerrard will be hopeful that his presence can bolster Al-Ettifaq’s performance and help them improve upon their seventh-place finish in the league during the previous season.
Henderson’s journey with Liverpool began in 2011 when he joined from Sunderland. Over the years, he established himself as a crucial figure in the squad, making an impressive 492 appearances for the Reds and scoring 33 goals. After Gerrard’s departure in 2015, Henderson took up the mantle of club captain, leading the team to numerous successes under the management of Jurgen Klopp, including triumphs in the Premier League and the Champions League.