Ajax has officially signed former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson after he terminated his contract with Al-Ettifaq. The 33-year-old English midfielder left the Saudi Pro League side due to difficulties in settling in the country since leaving Anfield last year. Henderson expressed gratitude to Al-Ettifaq, its fans, and his former teammates on social media. “I’m sad to say that I will be leaving Al-Ettifaq with immediate effect. It wasn’t an easy decision but one that I feel is best for me and my family. I want to take this opportunity to thank the club & the fans for all the support during my time. I really felt the love from Day One. I’ll keep watching & hoping for your success. Good luck for the future.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7805137##Ajax’s interim boss, John van’t Schip, praised Henderson’s leadership qualities and his immediate impact on the squad. The experienced midfielder underwent a medical in Amsterdam, and Ajax was reportedly offering him an 18-month deal with the option for an additional 12 months. Henderson’s signing follows reports that he deferred his $445,000-a-week wages at Al-Ettifaq for tax reasons and may not receive the owed payments.Amsterdam! So happy to be here. Can’t wait to see you all soon ❌❌❌ @AFCAjax pic.twitter.com/da3idpC3AB— Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) January 18, 2024 Henderson’s move to Ajax has been influenced by tax considerations, with him deferring wages during his stint at Al-Ettifaq to maintain non-residency status in the UK. The Telegraph reports that Henderson deferred his wages for tax reasons, aiming to spend limited time in the UK to avoid tax residency. He is yet to receive the deferred payments from his time in Saudi Arabia, and there’s scepticism that he will ever be paid. The move to Ajax will lead to a significant reduction in the Englishman’s wages, and he will have to settle tax liabilities for the initial six months with Al-Ettifaq.
