EPL

Liverpool captain Henderson completes move to Saudi club Al-Ettifaq

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  • Post published:July 28, 2023

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has joined Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq.

The England midfielder posted a goodbye message on Wednesday. He has now left Anfield after 12 years, during which he won every major trophy.

“We can confirm @JHenderson has completed a transfer to Al-Ettifaq,” Liverpool said on their social media channels.

Al-Ettifaq posted: “A leader. A warrior. We’re simply thrilled to have him.”

The 33-year-old player, who played 492 games for Liverpool and scored 33 goals, has signed a deal that pays him up to £700,000 a week, according to reports.

Liverpool will get £12 million ($15.5 million) from the Saudi club as a first payment.

Jurgen Klopp, the manager of the Reds, paid tribute to his captain before he left.

“I know it was a really, really tough decision for Hendo and I was around or with him all the way,” he said.

“It’s sad, absolutely strange, because he is the only captain I had here at Liverpool, but I think it is exciting for him as well.

“We will miss him, without a shadow of a doubt, that’s clear — as a man and as a player.”

Henderson said his goodbyes to the club’s fans on Wednesday.

“It’s hard to put these last 12 years into words and it’s even harder to say goodbye,” he said in an Instagram post. “I will always be a Red. Until the day I die.

“Thank you for everything. You’ll never walk alone.”

Henderson moved to Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011 and took over as captain at Anfield from Steven Gerrard in 2015.

In 2020, a year after winning the Champions League, he led the club to its first English league title in 30 years.

The England player will meet up with Gerrard, who is the coach of Al-Ettifaq, in Saudi Arabia.

Karim Benzema, a French striker, left Real Madrid to play for Al-Ittihad, just like his former Real teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for Al-Nassr.

N’Golo Kante from Chelsea and Roberto Firmino, who used to play with Henderson at Liverpool, are two other Premier League players who have moved to Saudi Arabia.