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Jordan Henderson Bids Farewell as He Prepares to Join Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is set to leave the club and join Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
The 33-year-old has already bid farewell to his teammates and is expected to finalize the move soon.
The deal, worth £12 million, will be structured through a payment timeline, as Al-Ettifaq doesn’t have financial backing from the Public Investment Fund like Saudi Arabia’s top four clubs. Henderson will be offered a contract of around £700,000-per-week to reunite with former teammate Gerrard.
Henderson had discussions with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp about his playing time and future role in the team. He also talked with England boss Gareth Southgate regarding the potential impact on his international career.
During his 12-year tenure at Liverpool, Henderson won seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League. He spent the last eight seasons as the club captain.
The move to Al-Ettifaq has drawn some backlash due to Henderson’s previous public support for rainbow laces and efforts to combat LGBT discrimination in football. Nevertheless, his arrival will strengthen Gerrard’s team after a recent pre-season defeat.
There are reports that Liverpool’s Fabinho may also be considering a £40 million move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
With the departures of Henderson and possibly Fabinho, Liverpool will be seeking midfield reinforcements. They have already added Alexis Mac Allister and Dominic Szoboszlai to their squad.
Some potential targets include Cheick Doucoure of Crystal Palace, Fiorentina captain Sofyan Amrabat, Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips, and Ryan Gravenberch, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool for a while.
Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid is another name under consideration, although it’s unlikely he would leave the Bernabeu.