Jurgen Klopp says he’s “very happy” for former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson after he joined Ajax just six months after heading to Saudi Arabia.
The 33-year-old joined Al Ettifaq in the summer in a deal worth £12m, ending a 12-year stay on Merseyside that saw Henderson win the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
But less than six months after venturing to the Middle East to unite with former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, Henderson has headed back to Europe to join Ajax – terminating his lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia to secure a move away.
Henderson hopes to play a part in England’s Euro 2024 campaign this summer, but despite receiving assurances from Gareth Southgate that playing in Saudi Arabia would not harm his chances, it’s understood he had become unsettled.
Speaking to the media ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth, Klopp revealed he had not been in contact with Henderson, but wished him and his family success at Ajax – a club he referred to as “sensational” despite their struggles in this season’s Eredivisie.
“I haven’t spoken to him about it, no. But I am happy for him because it looks like he’s happy and that’s the most important thing to me,” Klopp said. “From time to time I forget that I actually don’t read these kind of stories that people are critical of the move, first there and now coming back. All these kind of things.
“I don’t know how we dare to judge these kind of things, we have one life and sometimes the decisions are perfect in the first place and sometimes it is different after you make them. He was there and it was 100% an interesting experience.
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“When I spoke to him [he said] 99% it was football wise absolutely fine. It’s the start of something, not like it is here, and many things to develop there in the future but he was not critical of it. But then he thought it was better for him and his family to come back to Europe. Now he’s in Holland.
“Ajax is a sensational club in a difficult moment. Ajax always played the best football when they have combined their real talent with experience. Jordan will be part of that experienced group. From fifth place in Holland you can make steps and it’s all positive.
“It’s an experience. In England only do people think ‘why do they go abroad when all other countries want to come to England?’. As beautiful as this country is it’s an international experience [to play in another country]. For me it was the same. He can enjoy football and the family will enjoy it because the city is wonderful. I am very happy for him.”
Henderson will wear the number six shirt at Ajax after signing a two-and-a-half year deal, with the number 14 jersey – his number at Liverpool – retired after the 2007/08 season to honour the legendary Johan Cruyff.
He played 492 times for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 33 goals and becoming club captain in 2015 after joining from Sunderland four years previously. He lifted the club’s first Premier League title in 30 years after the Reds finished on 99 points during the 2019/20 season – 18 clear of Manchester City in second place and 33 ahead of bitter rivals Manchester United.
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