‘I don’t know how we dare’ – Jordan Henderson criticism baffles Jurgen Klopp as former Liverpool captain returns to Europe at Ajax following forgettable Saudi stint alongside Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq

The Champions League and Premier League title winner departed Anfield in the summer of 2023 when heading to the Middle East in a £12 million ($15m) deal. That switch allowed him to reunite with Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, but plenty of uncomfortable questions were asked of the England international.

That fresh start has been brought to a close after just six months, with Henderson linking up with Eredivisie giants in Amsterdam. Klopp has told reporters when asked about Henderson’s career path and those that continue to criticise him: “I didn’t speak to him after that (his transfer to Ajax). But I’m happy for him, because it looks like he’s happy and that’s the most important thing to me. From time to time I forget that I actually don’t read these kind of stories, but when it’s not about us directly, I read a little bit. People are really critical with Hendo about the move, first there and then now coming back. I don’t know how we dare, always judging these kind of things, all of us. We have one life and we have to make decisions. And sometimes our decisions are perfect in the first place, and sometimes that feels different after you’ve made them. He was there and it was a 100% interesting experience.

"I spoke to him and 99% of what happened there football-wise was absolutely fine. It’s the start of something and it’s not like it is here. Imagine it would be immediately like that. Many things to develop in the future but (he was) never really critical or saying 'It's not possible that that's not there'. But then he thought it is better for him and the family to come back to Europe and now he is at Ajax Amsterdam, a sensational club in a difficult moment. Ajax always played the best football when combined the real talent what is always there with some experience and that is obviously now the role for Hendo. He is part of that experienced group and from fifth place in Holland you can make steps and it's all positive. It's an experience."

Klopp added on the mindset in England, which is markedly different to anywhere else in the world when it comes to transfers and new experiences: “Only in England do people think 'Why do they go abroad?' All other countries want to come England and is beautiful this country is they want to make international experiences and for me it is the same. He is going to Holland where he can enjoy his football definitely again. The family will feel wonderful because the city is absolutely outstanding. I am very happy for him and will definitely talk to him in these few days but he has a few things to do which are more important.”

Henderson has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Ajax, with the 33-year-old midfielder hoping to produce the kind of form in the Netherlands that will allow him to form part of Gareth Southgate’s plans at Euro 2024 this summer.