The way the Al Ettifaq’s dressing room reacted to Jordan Henderson’s sudden departure has been revealed.
Back in the summer, Henderson ditched European football as he left Liverpool for Saudi Professional League side Al Ettifaq.
However, just six months after the move, it was reported earlier in the month that Henderson wanted to leave the Middle East and return to Europe.
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This week, it was confirmed that the 33-year-old had completed a move to Dutch side Ajax after reaching an agreement to terminate his Al Ettifaq contract.
According to a recent report by The Athletic, some of the Al Ettifaq players were left surprised by Henderson’s departure.
The report claimed that a few members of the squad didn’t believe the stories they saw during the winter break.
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It is believed that Henderson’s departure only became a reality for the players when manager Steven Gerrard told them that the midfielder was leaving their training camp in Abu Dhabi.
In a social media message to Al Ettifaq, Henderson wrote: “I’m sad to say that I will be leaving Al Ettifaq with immediate effect. It wasn’t an easy decision but one that I feel is best for me and my family.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the club and the fans for all the support during my time. I really felt the love from day one. I’ll keep watching and hoping for your success. Good luck for the future.”
Speaking about his new club, the Englishman said: “Putting on that Ajax shirt for the first time will be really special and I can't wait for that to happen.
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“Once I knew that there was an opportunity [to move here], I was over-excited and just overwhelmed that this opportunity was there for me. It was something that I wanted to try to make happen so it is very humbling for me to be here now. It's a special day.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty/ Al EttifaqTopics: Jordan Henderson, Ajax, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Football