Jamie Carragher makes Saudi Pro League vow after Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson moves

Jamie Carragher has made a Saudi Pro League vow after Jordan Henderson joined Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq.

The former Liverpool captains have linked up in the Middle East, with Henderson ending a trophy-laden 12-year stint at Liverpool and signing for a fee of £12 million.

The England international follows new signings Moussa Dembele and Jack Hendry and has signed a three-year contract.

The deal was officially announced by both Liverpool and Al Ettifaq on Thursday, though the Saudi side courted controversy after editing out his rainbow armband worn in solidarity for the LGBT+ community.

Henderson has been widely criticised for accepting a reported £700,000-a-week to move to the SPL and many have called out Carragher for "hypocrisy" over choices made by two of his ex Liverpool colleagues.

Rio Ferdinand has even had a dig at the pundit, which caused he and Carragher to engage in a spat online.

But he's provided his take in his column for The Telegraph, where he's claimed he would not accept a massive salary increase to cover football in Saudi if an offer was presented to him.

Carragher said he would have no interested commentating "on a league with so many players past their best".

Image: Getty

"Since Steven Gerrard moved to the Saudi Pro League and offered Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson the chance to follow him, I have been asked so many questions about their decision you would think I was joining them," he wrote.

"I am not their spokesperson. I speak for myself, not those I respect.

"But as I consider the pros and cons of their career choice I am prepared to say this: if I was offered four times my salary to leave Sky Sports and CBS in order to cover the Saudi Pro League, my answer would be no.

"Why? Because I love watching and analysing the best football in the world, which at the moment is the Premier League and Champions League.

"I could never be as enthusiastic when commentating on a league with so many players past their best, and with no history or tradition."

Liverpool players sent emotional messages to Henderson after the news was made official, while manager Jurgen Klopp did his own video to his former captain and branded him a "legend".

In a surprise move, Henderson will wear the No.10 shirt for his new employers. Al Ittifaq finished seventh in the league last season and had an average attendance of 5,561.

Topics: Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia, Jordan Henderson

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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