‘He held everything together' - Ajax star insists Dutch giants are still reeling from exit of Jordan Henderson

Ajax’s Champions League campaign went from bad to worse after suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Chelsea. The result has piled further pressure on head coach John Heitinga, who is already facing a furious fanbase following earlier losses to Olympique Marseille and Inter Milan. With the Dutch giants languishing in fourth place in the Eredivisie, nine points behind leaders Feyenoord, frustration over the team’s lack of direction has reached breaking point.

In the aftermath of the Stamford Bridge rout, veteran goalkeeper Pasveer acknowledged supporters’ anger and admitted the team has been far from its best. He described the defeat as “unfortunate,” pointing to a red card and two conceded penalties that derailed any hope of a comeback. When pressed to explain Ajax’s ongoing struggles, the 41-year-old didn’t hesitate to single out the impact of Henderson’s departure.

“We’re playing a little differently, and in Jordan Henderson, we’ve lost a clear leader,” Pasveer told reporters after the Chelsea defeat.

“He held everything together, and you definitely miss that. Because a player like that is important for a team with so many young players. You do miss a bit more direction now.”

Pasveer’s words echo the sentiment among Ajax fans, many of whom believe the club has failed to replace Henderson’s influence both on and off the pitch. However, Ajax chief Alex Kroes has defended the decision to allow the England international to leave the club for Brentford, stating that Ajax were undergoing a major restructuring aimed at cutting costs after missing out on the Eredivisie title.

“It’s very simple. We made an agreement with Jordan when he was able to leave in January,” Kroes explained. “He gave his all to help us reach the Champions League, and then had until July 14 to leave on a free transfer. That was a good agreement for both sides.

“At the beginning of July, there was still nothing, so I called his agent and pointed out the approaching date. He informed me that Jordan would very likely leave, but he didn’t yet know which club. In the end, it was Brentford.

“I understand people have different opinions about that. But they don’t know the details, and we don’t have to share them."

Henderson’s stint at Ajax may have been brief, but it left a significant impression on the club. The former Liverpool captain joined the Dutch giants in January 2024 from Al-Ettifaq on a free transfer, immediately becoming club captain and injecting a sense of professionalism and leadership into a youthful dressing room. Over 57 appearances, he scored once and provided nine assists, helping Ajax stabilise their form and qualify for the Champions League last season.

The relationship came to an end just 18 months later. In July 2025, Henderson and Ajax mutually agreed to terminate his contract so that he could pursue a move to Brentford. Since then, the former Liverpool captain has played a major part with the Bees under Keith Andrews. He has featured in eight Premier League matches, starting in seven of those, and has contributed two assists so far.

Ajax’s path to recovery will depend heavily on how quickly they can regain composure and rediscover a sense of identity. Heitinga faces mounting pressure to steady the ship, with the board expected to evaluate his position if results fail to improve in the coming weeks. For now, their Champions League campaign hangs by a thread, and qualification for the knockout rounds looks increasingly unlikely. As for Henderson, his career in England has regained momentum, with the midfielder thriving at Brentford and drawing praise for his professionalism and work ethic.