Jordan Henderson Spotted in Training with Al-Ettifaq amid £12m Switch to Steven Gerrard’s Side

Jordan Henderson was spotted in a now-deleted video of a training session with his new colleagues at Al-Ettifaq, as he prepares for a new chapter in the Middle East. The England international is set to complete a £12 million switch to Steven Gerrard’s side, who are currently based in Croatia for their pre-season camp.

According to Fabrizio Romano, who is a well-known transfer expert, Henderson is in Croatia to complete his move to Al-Ettifaq. The midfielder has been offered a staggering £700,000-a-week deal to join the Saudi Arabian club.

Henderson’s move has divided opinion, with LGBTQ+ organizations criticizing the midfielder for his decision to join a club based in a country with a poor human rights record and a negative stance on homosexuality. However, it is believed that Henderson did not take the decision to leave Liverpool lightly and held talks with Jurgen Klopp over his gametime this season, given the summer revamp in midfield areas. Henderson also spoke to Gareth Southgate about how a potential move could impact his minutes for the national team.

Liverpool, who will receive a transfer fee of around £12 million for Henderson, will now turn their attention to signing Southampton defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia. The club had a bid of £35m plus add-ons rejected on Tuesday, with the Championship club holding out for a fee of £50m. Klopp’s side are expected to make an improved offer.

Henderson’s departure marks the end of an era at Liverpool. In his twelve years on Merseyside, he lifted seven major trophies – including the Premier League and Champions League – and spent the last eight seasons as captain of the club. Liverpool fans will undoubtedly be sad to see him go, but they will wish him well in his new adventure.

Meanwhile, Henderson’s arrival at Al-Ettifaq is a major coup for the Saudi Arabian club. The midfielder brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team, having captained Liverpool to some of their greatest triumphs in recent years. With Gerrard at the helm, Al-Ettifaq will be hoping to challenge for honours both domestically and in Asia.