Apologetic Henderson: Leaving Saudi a ‘football decision’

Jordan Henderson said his decision to leave Al Ettifaq and sign for Ajax was “a football decision” and apologized to LGBTQIA+ fans at a press conference on Friday if they felt let down by his moving to Saudi Arabia.

Henderson signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Ajax on Thursday after agreeing to end his contract with Al Ettifaq, less than six months after signing for the Saudi Pro League club.

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“It was a decision mainly linked to football [to leave Al Ettifaq and join Ajax]. Of course, I have to make the decision based on what’s best for me and my family,” Henderson said.

“I think a lot of people would like me to sit here and criticize the Saudi League and everything that goes with it. But that's definitely not the case and I'm not going to do that.

“I have all the respect for the league, for all the fans of the club, for the people there who really made me feel welcome. Unfortunately, sometimes these things in life just don't work out. football and in life in general. I made a decision.”

Henderson has been criticized for his move to Saudi Arabia, given the country's poor human rights record, including laws that declare homosexuality illegal and punishable by death.

He had been a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community before his move, but insisted he was not purely motivated by money and was relishing the opportunity to make the Saudi league “the one of the best in the world” in an interview with The Athletic in September. .

Henderson apologized to LGBTQIA+ fans if they felt disappointed by his move to the Saudi Pro League in July.

“If any people in this community feel disappointed or hurt, I apologize. I did it six months ago, I will do it again,” Henderson said.

“That was never my intention. I had to make a decision based on what I thought was best for me and my family, but I understood that at the same time. But I didn't change in as a person… I have the same beliefs.

The midfielder had continued to be part of manager Gareth Southgate's England squads during his time in Saudi Arabia and was booed by some of the country's supporters at Wembley Stadium during a friendly against Australia in October.

Asked if he felt “hurt” by the criticism he received upon signing for Saudi Arabia, Henderson replied: “I'm not going to sit here and say I didn't not been hurt, but at the same time I understand it.

“But I care if people think I don't, but actually I care about other people and I think a lot about football and how I treat other people and respect other people.

“So it hurts of course, but at the same time, I totally respect their opinions and how they perceive me as a person and I obviously had to take it on the chin. And that's all I continued to I've never tried to hurt anyone, that was never my intention.

The 33-year-old took a huge cut in his Saudi salary to join Ajax – believed to be at least £350,000 a week ($443,000).

Henderson won seven major trophies during his time at Liverpool and won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup as captain.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp backed Henderson's move in a press conference on Friday.

“I'm happy for him because he looks happy and that's the most important thing for me,” Klopp said. “I don't read these stories, people are criticizing this decision, first there and now they are coming back.

“I don't know how we dare judge, we have a life and sometimes you make decisions and it's different once you've made them. 99% when I spoke to him it was football, a lot of things to develop there but not critical [of Saudi Arabia] but then he thought it would be better to come back with his family. Ajax is a sensational club.”

The midfielder is the third English-born player to represent the Dutch giants after Ray Clarke who became the first in the 1978-79 season and Chuba Akpom's arrival in Amsterdam in August 2023.

Henderson's new No.6 jersey sold more in the first 24 hours than any other in the club's history. Only the Bob Marley “Three Little Birds” shirt sold more in the first 24 hours. However, Ajax are selling the jersey for 40% of its usual retail price.

After a difficult start to the season which saw them briefly spend time in the relegation zone, Ajax have recovered to the point of now ranking fifth in the Eredivisie table, 23 points behind the championship leader, PSV Eindhoven.