Jordan Henderson bids farewell to Liverpool fans ahead of looming Saudi move

LONDON – Jordan Henderson said his goodbyes to Liverpool’s fans on Wednesday, ahead of an impending move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq.

The 33-year-old Reds captain is set to bring to an end to a 12-year spell at Anfield, where he has won every major club honour, when he links up with former Liverpool teammate and skipper Steven Gerrard,

now the manager of the Saudi Pro League side.

“It’s hard to put these last 12 years into words and it’s even harder to say goodbye,” said the England international in an Instagram post.

“I will always be a Red. Until the day I die. Thank you for everything. You’ll never walk alone.”

Henderson added in a video accompanying his post: “I’m in the (Liverpool) dressing room for the last time so, as you can imagine, it is very emotional.

“I need to somehow explain what these last 12 years have meant for me and my family.

“Being made the captain of Liverpool Football Club was one the greatest honours of my life.

“From the day the armband was passed to me, I did everything I could to behave like a Liverpool captain should.

“Thank you for allowing me to be part of your club, thank you for your support in good times and bad.”

He led the Reds to their first English league title for 30 years in 2020, a year after lifting the Champions League trophy.

However, the England midfielder has been tempted to join Gerrard, appointed manager of Al-Ettifaq earlier in July, after reportedly being offered a deal worth up to £700,000 (S$1.2 million) a week.

Liverpool are set to receive a fee of £12 million.

Henderson joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011 and succeeded Gerrard as skipper in 2015.

His apparent decision to move to the Gulf state has been criticised by Liverpool’s LGBT+ fans group Kop Outs.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher wrote in The Telegraph: “Henderson has a big problem to deal with because of his previous remarks in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I fully understand that criticism and it is justified.

“Jordan was heralded on the back of his speaking out, so he has difficult questions to answer, and the critical reaction towards him will have a negative impact moving forward for those communities who cherish support from high-profile figures.”

Saudi Arabia has been accused of attempting to “sportswash” its human rights record by hosting major sporting events.

The conservative monarchy executed 81 people in a single day in 2022 and outlaws homosexuality. AFP