Jordan Henderson, the former captain of Liverpool, has finally negotiated a surprise move to Dutch giants Ajax, ending his ordeal in Saudi Arabia.

Jordan Henderson has secured a move to Dutch giants Ajax as his Saudi nightmare comes to an end (Image: @AFCAjax/Twitter)Jordan Henderson, the former captain of Liverpool, has finally ended his disastrous time in Saudi Arabia by formally joining Ajax.The 33-year-old wrote a post on X (previously known as Twitter) on Thursday night, January 18, announcing his departure from Al-Ettifaq, a Saudi Pro League team.”I regret to inform you that I will be departing from Al Ettifaq effective immediately,” he wrote. Though I don’t think it’s the greatest choice for my family and me, it wasn’t an easy one.This is my chance to express my gratitude to the club and the supporters for their unwavering support throughout my stay. From Day One on, I truly felt the love. I’ll continue to watch and wish you luck. I wish you well going forward.Shortly before Henderson made his comments, the Eredivisie powerhouses announced the transfer, as the Dutch team stated: “Ajax and Jordan Henderson have reached an agreement on Henderson’s transfer to Amsterdam. The midfielder spent the previous six months at Al-Ettifaq. The 81-cap English international player recently decided to end his relationship with the Saudi Arabian club.”The England international’s decision to return to Europe after just six months in the Middle East was brought on by both bad on-field experiences and growing dissatisfaction with his family’s new way of life.The Liverpool legend, who inked an 18-month contract with an additional year’s option, joins a revitalized Ajax team that hasn’t dropped a game since October. Interim manager John van ‘t Schip expressed his excitement about adding a player of Henderson’s caliber to the team. The Dutchman stated, “We wanted an experienced midfielder with leadership qualities.”The 33-year-old lasted just six months in Saudi Arabia (Image: Getty Images)We needed someone to come in right away, in part because of injuries on the team. And Jordan Henderson is one of those players. His arrival will greatly improve our team. A football player of this caliber is vital to our many young players, both on and off the field.”An English international player, he has won numerous awards with Liverpool, including the Champions League. I’m glad he’s here, and I believe having him as an Ajacied starting today will be great for our team.”The England international is the first high-profile player to ditch the Saudi Pro League (Image: Getty Images)

Henderson will be eligible for Ajax’s Europa Conference League campaign as they take on Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the knockout round playoffs next month.