The former Liverpool captain faced considerable backlash upon departing Anfield for Al-Ettifaq in the summer of 2023. After spending a few months in the Middle East, where he collaborated with fellow Reds legend Steven Gerrard, Henderson opted to terminate his contract early and return to Europe.
He is currently a member of Eredivisie powerhouse Ajax, who drew a crowd of 53,744 for his debut match against PSV. Henderson had been accustomed to playing in front of fewer than 1,000 spectators at times in Saudi Arabia, with a low attendance of 610. The England international is delighted to be back in the spotlight.
Speaking to NOS about the packed stands, Henderson remarked, “I thought the atmosphere was amazing from the start to the finish. Really helped the lads I think to keep pushing and trying to find that winner.”
Reflecting on comparisons between the atmosphere in Amsterdam and that of Merseyside, Henderson commented, “Yeah, it was incredible. I’ve heard the atmosphere’s really good. Especially against PSV and teams like this. But yeah, it was really good atmosphere, really special. It was a long time since I played in an atmosphere like that, so I really enjoyed that.”
Henderson refrained from openly criticizing the Saudi Pro League since his departure, acknowledging that renowned players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane continue to thrive in that league. However, he seems to acknowledge that his decision to leave Liverpool may have been questionable in terms of his career trajectory.
“It’s been a long time since I played in an atmosphere like that!” 🏟️
Jordan Henderson enjoyed his Ajax debut!#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/BZBmfOSKnZ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 5, 2024
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Brian Henderson
EnglandThis season he played in total 17 times for 1528 minutes for Pro League.
Jordan Henderson didn’t score any goal for Al Ittifaq. He procured 4 assists. He received 4 yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 8th in Pro League. In the last match Al Ittifaq drew 1-1 against Al Hazm. The next match in Pro League will be against Al Khaleej.
Ajax performance and stats
Ajax
Ajax is currently 5th in the Eredivisie with 35 points.
In the last 19 games, it has won 10 times, drawn 6 times, and lost 3 times. In its last match, Ajax drawn 1-1 against PSV.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 47 goals and conceding 36.
Ajax will play the next match in Eredivisie against Almere City on Sunday 12th of May in Amsterdam.
