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Topics: Jordan Henderson, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia, Ajax
Daniel Marland
Topics: Jordan Henderson, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia, Ajax
Jordan Henderson will take a massive pay cut to leave Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq and join Ajax.
The 33-year-old has agreed a deal to leave Al Ettifaq just six months after joining the club from Liverpool.
Henderson arrived in the Middle East shortly after former teammate Steven Gerrard was appointed manager.
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It's been claimed the midfielder has 'struggled with the heat and humidity' in the country and isn't impressed with the average attendance at Al Ettifaq games.
As well as that, Henderson feared he'd lose his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.
Henderson did intend on making a return to the Premier League. Since then, an opportunity to join Dutch giants Ajax has emerged.
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It means the ex-Reds captain can re-establish himself on the European stage. He's giving up a hefty sum to end his stint in Saudi Arabia.
Per talkSPORT, Henderson is expected to take a 75 per cent pay cut and effectively buy his way out of his contract.
It was previously reported that Henderson is earning £700,000-per-week with Al Ettifaq. He's since denied those claims.
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A 75 per cent cut of that means the former Sunderland man will still be taking home a cool £175,000-per-week. Not a bad wedge to be earning in the Eredivisie.
The termination terms for Henderson are said to be complicated. Letting him go will free up £8 million.
If Ajax manage to qualify for Europe, Henderson will have to pay an additional bonus to Al Ettifaq.
The Commandos are currently eighth in the table and 28 points off the top.
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Pressure continues to mount on Gerrard, who was allowed to bring in Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jack Hendry, Demarai Gray and Moussa Dembele in the summer.
The club will explore bringing in another midfielder in the summer after allowing Henderson's exit.
"We need to show in this window, and also the summer window, that we mean business and we want to be competitive at the top of the league, and not where we are at the moment," Gerrard said last month.
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"It's a collective thing -- the players here and now need to give more, and people need to step up and, at the right time, we will hopefully be able to make significant changes to the team and the squad.
"Hopefully at the back end of January you will see a different, stronger and more competitive squad."