Jordan Henderson TERMINATES Al-Ettifaq contract after just six months as he turns his back on Saudi Pro League and Steven Gerrard to agree shock Ajax transfer after failing to settle in Middle East

The former Liverpool captain is desperate to leave the Middle East despite only completing a £12 million ($15m) transfer to Al-Ettifaq during the summer of 2023. It has been suggested that the midfielder’s wife may be influencing his decision to leave Saudi Arabia as the family has found it hard to adapt to life in their new surroundings.

According to The Atheltic, Henderson has been able to talk his way out of Al-Ettifaq, with his representatives now working with the club to officially terminate the three-year contract that he signed last summer. The Saudi Pro League side were initially adamant about holding on to him and had no intention of accepting his demands. However, they have finally softened their stanc, giving Henderson the green light for a permanent transfer. The playmaker is already on his way back to England after agreeing in principle to join the Eredivisie side and after completing the required paperwork and medical, Henderson will be unveiled as a new Ajax player.

Henderson has made 17 appearances in the Saudi Pro League and provided four assists under former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard. He has found it difficult to make an impact with results taking a turn for the worse, and Al-Ettifaq now find themselves languishing in eighth with just 25 points from 19 matches.

Henderson will be expected to produce the goods in Amsterdam from day one as Ajax have struggled in the current campaign. They had a managerial change in October when Maurice Steijn was dismissed after only 11 games in charge, with Ajax sitting second from the bottom in the Eredivisie, having secured only five points from their initial seven fixtures.

Following Steijn's departure, the team has undergone a significant transformation under interim head coach John van ‘t Schip, as they remain unbeaten in the league, recording seven wins and two draws in nine matches, which has propelled them to fifth in the standings.