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Jordan Henderson severed ties with fans of Liverpool, England and the entire LGBTQ+ community when joining Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia’s top flight.
Rather than the gargantuan pay rise he earned, Henderson tried to claim that he moved to a country with a fiercely criticised human rights regime to “grow the league into one of the best in the world”.
After six months in Saudi, playing in front of crowds as small as 696 fans and winless since Halloween, strong rumours have emerged that Al Ettifaq’s captain is keen – even ‘desperate’ – to end his stay in the Kingdom.
Here are the most likely exit points on Henderson’s embarrassing escape route.
Henderson revealed that he pushed for his £12m move to Saudi Arabia after Jurgen Klopp made it brutally clear that the club captain would have his game time slashed.
After six months of suffering in the Saudi heat, Henderson hasn’t become a more attractive midfield prospect – even if England manager Gareth Southgate insists that his running stats haven’t dipped.
Summer arrivals Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo have made it tricky for Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones to get into Liverpool’s midfield – one can only imagine how little use Klopp would have for Henderson now.
Likelihood: 1/10
Despite the Premier League’s protestations, it’s difficult to ignore the link between Newcastle United and Saudi Arabia. However, the Public Investment Fund that owns the Magpies and four Pro League clubs has no sway over Henderson’s Al Ettifaq.
Nevertheless, Eddie Howe’s injury-ravaged Newcastle side could benefit from a few fit bodies and have the funds to finance Henderson’s return. Yet, as a former Sunderland player and fan, it may be difficult for Henderson to accept a position on Tyneside.
Likelihood: 2/10
While Henderson came under justified scrutiny for his move to Saudi, Brendan Rodgers was one of the few figures to defend the England international, chastising the “morality officers around the world”.
Whether the former Liverpool manager is willing to offer Henderson a contract rather than just kind words is another matter entirely.
Celtic, Rodgers’ current employers, are not short on central options, and the immovable club captain Callum McGregor is a fixture at the base of midfield – Henderson’s favoured position.
Likelihood: 3/10
Chelsea’s scattergun approach to recruitment under the free-spending BlueCo ownership could reach new realms of ineptitude if they follow through with the proposed purchase of Henderson to compensate for Conor Gallagher’s sale.
Gallagher is a fan favourite, a decade Henderson’s junior and a regular under Mauricio Pochettino. Yet, his status as an academy graduate, and the pure profit which could be banked from a widely rumoured departure, may be too tempting for Todd Boehly to turn down.
Likelihood: 5/10
Henderson may want to leave but there is no reason why Al Ettifaq have to sell their flagship acquisition.
Al Ettifaq are ambitious. The side owned by the second-largest petrochemicals company in Saudi Arabia were the biggest Pro League spenders outside the state-funded ‘Big Four’ last summer.
Gerrard tied Henderson down to a contract which lasts until 2026 and has spent the winter break demanding more arrivals rather than sanctioning any exits. The first six months may have been bumpy – Al Ettifaq languish in eighth, losing as many games as they have won – but the league’s entire expansion is part of a long-term project.
If Al Ettifaq reluctantly let Henderson leave, they would reportedly require an ‘astronomical offer’, demanding a profit on the £12m sum it took to bring Liverpool’s skipper to Saudi (per Talksport). Even if Henderson does take a considerable pay cut, there is not a queue of suitors lining up to splash such cash on a 33-year-old toiling away at a mid-table club in Saudi’s top flight.
Likelihood: 9/10
