Jordan Henderson: Liverpool Skipper Makes Surprising Move to Al Ettifaq; Reunites with Steven Gerrard in Thrilling Saudi Pro League Transfer
Liverpool captain Henderson reunites with former teammate Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League, marking a new chapter in his career The move comes as Henderson receives no assurances from England manager Southgate Stay tuned for more transfer updates on Sky Sports
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has made a controversial transfer to join Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League team Al Ettifaq. It is rumored that Al Ettifaq, under the management of Liverpool icon Gerrard, have significantly increased Henderson's salary to over three times his previous weekly wage of £200,000.
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Henderson's move to Saudi Arabia's Pro League has sparked controversy and marks the end of his exceptional 12-year stint at Anfield. The transfer carries a hefty price tag of approximately £13m. Throughout his illustrious career at Liverpool, he claimed an impressive tally of seven significant titles. In order to gain a clearer understanding of his potential playing opportunities for the upcoming season, the 33-year-old engaged in discussions with Jurgen Klopp before reaching the conclusion to depart.
Liverpool is currently in the process of revamping their midfield, although it is not yet finished. Their recent acquisitions include Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and they continue to show significant interest in Romeo Lavia.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has expressed their interest in Thiago Alcantara, while Liverpool has already approved Fabinho's £40m transfer to Al Ittihad.
Henderson joined the Liverpool squad for their pre-season training camp in Germany. However, he did not participate in the opening friendly against Karlsruher last week. Prior to his departure, he bid farewell to his teammates and returned home to undergo a medical examination and finalize the transfer. His updates can be found on Twitter.
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Henderson has evaluated both the extent of his on-field responsibilities at Liverpool in the future and the potential hindrance a move to Al Ettifaq could pose on his international prospects for Euro 2024.
Furthermore, there is an ethical aspect to consider: Henderson has consistently championed human rights and is among the most vocal proponents of the LGBTQI+ community.
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Saudi Arabia criminalizes homosexuality and imposes the death penalty as punishment. The country also faces allegations of numerous other human rights violations, such as severe limitations on women's rights and the right to engage in political demonstrations.
"Whilst Jordan Henderson has the freedom to decide which team he plays for, we strongly encourage him to thoroughly scrutinize Saudi Arabia's track record on human rights. Furthermore, it is imperative that he is willing to bravely address any instances of human rights abuses in the nation," highlighted Peter Frankental, Amnesty's UK economic affairs director, during a recent statement on Twitter.
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Pride in Football, a network of LGBT+ fan groups, expressed their disappointment and loss of respect for Jordan, who publicly transferred to a club in a country where LGBT+ individuals face attacks and imprisonment. They wished him luck in Saudi Arabia, but emphasized that he had lost the trust and admiration of many.
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Liverpool's LGBT+ fans group, Kop Outs, expressed even stronger criticism, casting doubt on whether Henderson was truly an ally, considering the choices he has recently made.
Henderson given no guarantees by Southgate
Henderson had a conversation with Gareth Southgate before ultimately deciding to take up his lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia, in order to seek reassurance regarding his England future.However, We News has been informed that Southgate could not guarantee the 33-year-old's selection. At the same time, Henderson discovered that he would not be immediately disregarded by the England manager as he assesses his squad for the upcoming autumn internationals.
Henderson has informed Southgate, with whom he shares a close bond, that he has no intention of retiring from international football. He expresses a strong desire to continue participating in the upcoming Euro qualifiers and in next year's finals in Germany. However, his transfer to the Saudi Pro League raises doubts about his future with the England national team, as the quality of football there is significantly lower than that of the Premier League.
Which players will be transferring this summer as the transfer window opens on June 14 and closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on We' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on We News.
