Pilloried for moving to the Saudi Pro League in 2023, Jordan Henderson’s reputation is patched back up, at least in the Netherlands.
The former Liverpool captain made the move to Al Ettifaq after becoming a free agent in the summer of 2023, insisting that no one else wanted him.
However, after just a few months he rejected his massive payday to return to Europe with Eredivisie giants Ajax.
All over the place since Erik ten Hag’s departure in 2022, things got worse for the Dutch side after Henderson’s arrival in January 2024 and they even flirted with relegation.
However, the ship has been fully steadied under Italian coach Francesco Farioli, and Henderson has been given a large portion of the credit.
The England midfielder awkwardly went viral weeks after arriving when he celebrated chasing down a loose ball, something that was seen as completely opposed to Ajax’s identity of beautiful, total football.
However, in the 2024/25 season, he’s fully adapted, and even became club captain.
The turnaround has included a six-game winning run and 13-game unbeaten streak, with Henderson leading the way last time out as Ajax shocked leaders PSV with a 3-2 home win.
Ajax are now second in the Eredivisie, their highest position in over two years, and look like they may well be shock title contenders.
All of this has seen heaps of praise piled on Henderson, and even links with a return to England just a year into his two-and-a-half-year deal.
However, Ajax are willing to put up a fight.
Showing just how respected the former Sunderland man is, technical director Alex Kroes has now attempted to shut down any interest.
“I am extremely happy with Jordan as captain, both on and off the field,” he said. “So we do not want to lose him.
“We assume that he will help us to continue the further development that we are currently going through as a club and team.”
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