Jordan Henderson's Al-Ettifaq stay was doomed from the start! Steven Gerrard and Co left unimpressed with shoddy training camp in Croatia as food and facilities described as 'not up to scratch'

Henderson has left the Saudi Pro League side to join Ajax just six months after his controversial move to the Middle East. The former Liverpool midfielder and his family struggled to settle into the new surroundings and it has now been revealed that the facilities at Al-Ettifaq, coached by Steven Gerrard, had been deemed poor. According to The Athletic, the problems began at the club's pre-season training camp in Croatia, which was described as 'sub-standard'. Staff were said to have been unimpressed with the food and facilities, while the pitch the first team trained on was bumpy. Problems were also evident at Al-Ettifaq, who are backed by a lucrative pharmaceutical company, with the pitch at their stadium having to be re-laid.

Henderson's move to Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is illegal, had infuriated LGBTQ+ campaigners after the midfielder had championed the rainbow laces movement while in the Premier League. But he ended up angering Al-Ettifaq's hierarchy when news broke that he wanted to quit the club as he had not told them of his plans. However, the Saudi Pro League sympathised with the fact his family were unhappy and later the club negotiated an early exit, which could see Henderson lose a substantial amount of money.

Henderson has not earned any money from his time in the Middle East. He signed a deal worth a reported £350,000 per week, but The Telegraph claims those wages were deferred and by leaving early for Ajax he will forego the payments.

Henderson, who will wear the No.6 for Ajax, will hope to hit the ground running now he is back in Europe as he looks to lock down his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024. The 33-year-old could feature when Ajax face RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie on Sunday.