Jordan Henderson opens up about his departure from Liverpool to join Al-Ettifaq

Jordan Henderson left Liverpool due to a perceived lack of desire to stay, despite his strong connection to the club. He acknowledged the importance of representing Liverpool and the England national team, but was rejected by Liverpool when an offer from Al-Ettifaq emerged. Henderson accepted the inevitability of change and came to terms with the circumstances surrounding his departure, despite his strong attachment to Liverpool.

Zor

September 7, 2023

Jordan Henderson’s departure from Liverpool was influenced by a perceived lack of desire from the club to retain him. Despite his strong connection to Liverpool, he admitted that if he had been encouraged to stay, he would have. However, certain factors made his continued presence at the club untenable.

Henderson spoke highly of his relationship with Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, highlighting Klopp’s honesty throughout the process. While he didn’t divulge the specifics of their private conversations, it became evident to him that his chances of regular playing time were diminishing with the introduction of new talent.

His long-standing tenure at the club and his leadership role further complicated matters. Henderson acknowledged the importance of representing Liverpool and the England national team, particularly with the European Championships on the horizon.

Yet, when an offer from Al-Ettifaq emerged, Liverpool swiftly rejected it. This response signaled a shift in Henderson’s perception of his value to the club and the club’s management’s intentions.

Ultimately, Henderson accepted the inevitability of change, even though he hadn’t anticipated it happening so quickly. Despite his attachment to Liverpool and his eagerness to contribute, he came to terms with the circumstances surrounding his departure from the club.

In an interview with The Athletics, Jordan Henderson said, “That was very much the case. I had a chat with the manager at the end of last season, which was about the season coming up, the players that we were looking to bring in and what his plans were. I went away over the summer and I had an intense period of training to make sure that I was in the best shape possible when I returned to Liverpool.”