England midfielder Jordan Henderson has been with Liverpool since 2011, taking over the captain’s mark from Steven Gerrard. Since Jurgen Klopp took over as manager, he has lifted numerous trophies and won all the titles he could win.
He is trusted by manager Gareth Southgate, and despite being 33 years old, he is the mainstay of the England national team. He has made a total of 492 appearances for Anfield and 77 for the national team.
The leader of the team, who leads others with a high level of captaincy, was naturally expected to continue to play for Liverpool in the new season.
However, Gerrard’s new manager, Al-Ettifaq, showed strong interest and continued to tempt him. Nevertheless, the former Sunderland midfielder refused to go to Saudi Arabia and made the decision to concentrate on playing for Liverpool and England, according to Ben Jacobs.
Exclusive: Jordan Henderson will NOT join Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 12, 2023
Understand Henderson is focused on Liverpool despite the interest and feels staying at Anfield is also best for his Euro 2024 chances.🔴 pic.twitter.com/V9gzERizrB
The Middle Eastern club reportedly offered him a two-year contract plus an option for a one-year extension, plus a 50% increase from his current salary, so a move to Saudi Arabia would have certainly enriched his wallet.
It is not surprising that the Saudi Professional League, which has the potential to develop in the future, is attractive to him, as he will be reunited with his old friends, including Roberto Firmino, as well as Gerrard.
However, he and his teammates had a disappointing season last year and will be looking to make up for it in the new season. Furthermore, with the EURO 2024 coming up next summer, he has chosen to play in the Premier League in order to finish his career with the English national team.
Even with James Milner out and Van Dijk, Robertson, and Allison in the squad, Liverpool still needs outstanding leadership. He is expected to see less playing time next season, but he will be an exceptional presence.