Saudi Pro League chief believes Jordan Henderson is disturbed after England squad snub

According to Saudi Pro League chief football administrator Michael Emenalo, Henderson experienced "no issues" regarding the division, considering its low attendance, but chose to transfer to Ajax because he feared losing his place in the England squad, which has now transpired. Emenalo said that the 33-year-old's exit did not impact the league, but that it may have harmed the former Liverpool and Sunderland player on a "personal level".

While speaking to the Telegraph, Michael said, : “It wasn’t damaging at all for the league. It was damaging on a personal level because this is someone that we all admired and we tried our very best to help him adapt and to stay. But sometimes these things are just beyond your own needs and just beyond professional. Jordan did a lot of good work here, did a lot of good work for Ettifaq and had inputs in ideas that have transformed that club and had an opportunity to know the country and the culture.”

He added, “If you ask him privately now, he will tell you that he had no issues. But sometimes there is a confluence of things happening that makes individuals make a decision that I think is best for them. I felt that is a guy who’s an ultra-professional and who had built a career, a magnificent, magnificent career through becoming Liverpool captain, England captain and maybe to, in his mind, he had an idea of how he wanted to finish.”

Jordan Henderson’s recent decline

Henderson's life hasn't gone exactly as planned during the last year. The experienced midfielder's career took a turn for the worse immediately following leaving Liverpool for the Saudi Pro League, which harmed his reputation in the LGBTQ+ community. Besides failing to impress at Ajax, he has been left out for the England team for Euro 2024.

Henderson, who initially signed for Al-Ettifaq in 2023 for £12 million before terminating his contract in January and signing with Ajax. Barring a surprise call-up, he will not be attending this summer's UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany as well.