Jordan Henderson has left Liverpool. The Reds' captain has signed a three-year deal with Saudi club Al-Ettifaq. The Associated Press is reporting that Henderson will earn an eye-popping £700,000 per week. By comparison, Mohamed Salah, the highest-paid Liverpool player, earns £350,000 per week.
Henderson's name has been linked to a transfer for weeks and Al-Ettifaq was his most-likely destination where Henderson will be reunited with his former teammate Steven Gerrard who is the club's manager.
Henderson has been a mainstay at Anfield for 12 seasons and has captained the Reds since 2015. Henderson scored 33 goals during his Liverpool career during 522 appearances with the club. He has lifted 8 trophies as captain including Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20 and the Champions League during the next season.
Henderson posted a message of thanks for the past 12 seasons on his social media accounts and his Liverpool teammates have returned that love and admiration and manager Jürgen Klopp.
“It's sad, absolutely strange because he is the only captain I had here at Liverpool,” Klopp said. “But I think it is exciting for him as well. We will miss him, without a shadow of a doubt, that's clear - as a man and as a player. But, as I said, that's football.”
LFC Globe Verdict
I had a feeling this was coming, but it is still a shock when a popular as Henderson leaves. I'm sure it was a tough decision, and although some supporters are not happy, as Klopp said, that's football. We must bid farewell to our captain and try to move forward because the season is quickly approaching.