England midfielder Jordan Henderson left Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq just a few months into a lucrative three-year contract and Gerrard was asked about his ex-colleague’s decison

Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard has said he’s pleased Jordan Henderson is happy after allowing his former Liverpool team-mate to leave the Saudi Pro League club.

England international Henderson joined Gerrard in the Middle East over the summer after ending his long association with Liverpool.

The move was a contentious one, with LGBT+ groups and individuals feeling let down after Henderson’s previous allyship, and his spell in Saudi Arabia also proved to be a short one.

Midway through his first season, the former Al-Ettifaq captain ended his stint with the club, tearing up a contract worth a reported £700,000 per week. He has now returned to Europe, joining Dutch side Ajax, and remains in the England picture under Gareth Southgate.

Gerrard was part of a Liverpool legends team which beat an Ajax legends side 4-2 in a charity match just hours before England’s friendly with Brazil. The former Reds skipper was asked about Henderson after the game, and appeared to have no hard feelings towards his former charge.

“We miss him. We miss him. Great guy, great player,” Gerrard told LFCTV after the charity game.. “But I’m glad he’s happy. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago on the phone. He’s all good. He’s happy and settled. He’s looking forward to the end of the season.”

Henderson was called up to England’s squad for the double-header with Brazil and Belgium, but missed the first of those games after picking up an injury on his last Ajax outing. He has consistently made Gareth Southgate’s squads this season, even when playing in Saudi Arabia, but the England boss welcomed the midfielder’s European return.

“It’s easier to assess someone playing in a European league,” Southgate said in February. “For Jordan, I think he’ll be excited about the game the other night – a derby atmosphere, playing in a game where firstly the club are absolutely delighted to have him there. He’s had a really warm welcome and been really well received, and I’m sure that will mean a lot to him.”

Promoted Stories

Henderson joined Ajax midway through the season (
Image:
Getty Images)

Henderson, 33, joined Ajax on a deal which runs until the end of the 2025-26 season. The former Sunderland and Liverpool man has two assists in six Eredivisie outings, with Ajax still well adrift of the Champions League spots after a nightmare start to the season, and played in his team’s Europa Conference League elimination at the hands of Aston Villa.

In March, he reflected on his Liverpool exit and recognised the club’s success in rebuilding their midfield. “It was the right time for me as a player but also for them as a team and for them as a club, as much as that hurt at the time. I was very emotional,” he said.

“Looking back in that period of time, looking back now, it is easy to see that it was the right decision made by the manager and the club. It was the best decision to freshen things up. If you look at Virgil van Dijk becoming captain, Trent Alexander-Arnold becoming vice-captain, and how they’ve stepped up again this season, I think it has given them another lift.”