Jordan Henderson CONFIRMS Liverpool leaving in an emotional video
Jordan Henderson CONFIRMS Liverpool leaving in an emotional video… with the Reds captain calling time on his 12-year tenure at Anfield to join Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq.
Jordan Henderson has confirmed his departure from Liverpool after 12 years, with the England midfielder likely to join Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia.
Henderson addressed his last goodbyes to the Reds on Monday, capping a 12-year stint with the club.
The 33-year-old jetted off to Saudi Arabia to finalize his contentious transfer to Al-Ettifaq, where he will sign a lucrative three-year contract for £700,000 per week.
He had a medical in Manchester on Friday ahead of the transfer, and before announcing his Anfield departure on Wednesday, footage of Henderson training with his new Al-Ettifaq teammates surfaced on social media.
Shortly after, the Liverpool captain announced his departure from Merseyside in an emotional video on social media.
‘I’m not sure I have words to describe how I’m feeling right now. ‘I’m in the dressing room for the last time, and it’s quite emotional,’ he says.
‘I need to express to you how these previous 12 years have felt for me and my family. That night in June 2011 is still fresh in my mind. As the relocation from Sunderland became a reality, I was both excited and scared.
‘To be honest, it was difficult to leave there. My hometown, my club, but when Liverpool calls, you don’t turn it down. It feels like yesterday, driving through those old Melwood gates, meeting Damien, the whirling feeling in my stomach, meeting Sir Kenny.
‘When I look back to that footage, I feel like a kid. Who could have predicted how the next 12 years would unfold looking back on that night?
‘I’m not going to lie. There have been difficult periods, but when I reflect on my time at Liverpool, I will always recall the wonderful days.’
Henderson is said to have spoken extensively with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp about his expected playing time and future position in the team before deciding to leave.
Klopp had left Henderson out of Liverpool’s first two pre-season friendly after Al-Ettifaq returned to the table with an offer the Anfield club was willing to accept.
Henderson also spoke with England manager Gareth Southgate on how a transfer to the Middle East might affect his international future.
He is the latest Premier League player to be signed by the Saudi Pro League this summer, as well as the first prominent England international to do so.
The former Liverpool captain has previously faced criticism for his relocation to Saudi Arabia, which some feel has weakened his public support for the LGBT community.
He had been an outspoken supporter of the rainbow laces campaign and the elimination of LGBT prejudice in football.
A Liverpool LGBT fan club warned earlier this month that they were ‘appalled and concerned’ that he was considering moving to a country where homosexuality is banned and gay people face rampant persecution.
Henderson had been a key member of Liverpool’s squad since arriving from Sunderland for £20 million in 2011.
Henderson won seven major championships during his twelve years in Merseyside, including the Premier League and the Champions League.
After succeeding Steven Gerrard as captain in 2015, he led the team for the next eight seasons.
Henderson will be reunited with Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq following the appointment of the Liverpool star as manager earlier this month.
Al-Ettifaq, unlike Saudi Arabia’s top four clubs, does not have financial backing from the Public Investment Fund.
As a result, the club and Liverpool agreed to a £12 million arrangement with a structured payment schedule.
Henderson will have to help Gerrard overcome his club’s sluggish start in Dammam, Saudi Arabia’s fourth largest city.
Under Gerrard, Al-Ettifaq have had two draws and two losses in pre-season, having faced Croatia and Hungary.
Henderson will most likely meet his new teammates during their pre-season training camp in Croatia.
According to reports, the midfielder may be joined at the club by former Lyon attacker Moussa Dembele.
Al-Ettifaq will play two more pre-season friendly before opening their Saudi Pro League season on August 14 against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
This summer, Al-Nassr has already recruited former Manchester United full defender Alex Telles and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
They are also allegedly interested in Henderson’s ex-Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane.
Henderson could be joined in Saudi Arabia by fellow Reds midfielder Fabinho, who missed the club’s pre-season trip to consider a £40 million move to Al-Ittihad.
Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy are among the players who have left European clubs for the Middle East.
