The former Liverpool midfielder could miss out on England's Euro 2024 squad and he only has himself to blame
When Jordan Henderson was unveiled as an Al-Ettifaq player in the summer, the club produced a no-expense-spared video package. As well as blurring out the rainbow armband Henderson wore in solidarity with the LBGTQ+ community during his time as Liverpool captain, the Saudi Pro League side boldly proclaimed their marquee signing was: "someone who runs towards fresh challenges rather than shy away. The perfect embodiment of the Ettifaq DNA."
Following the news that Henderson is seeking an exit from the club, just six months after his arrival, this statement is now steeped in irony. Irony that will taste particularly delicious to the player's critics – of which there were many after he signed up to the "exciting project" back in July.
Since then, Henderson has passionately and publicly defended his decision in a string of interviews. However, with the midfielder's Middle Eastern sojourn seemingly drawing to a premature end, it's impossible not to draw negative conclusions about his motivations for making the move.
Getty ImagesIt all started so well…
In the early weeks of Henderson's time in Saudi Arabia, there were few signs that his Al-Ettifaq stint would seemingly end in such an underwhelming fashion. In their very first game of the season, Steven Gerrard's side defeated Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr 2-1, with their star man performing well in the heart of midfield.
This result set the tone for a promising start to the season. Henderson eventually moved into a slightly more advanced midfield role than he was used to playing at Liverpool, and when Al-Ettifaq recovered from a 3-2 deficit to secure a 4-3 victory over Al-Tai in late September, the upstarts were even mentioned as unlikely title challengers.
In that game, the 33-year-old notched his fourth assist of the season, swinging in a pinpoint free kick for ex-Lyon man Moussa Dembele to head home. In the two matches prior to that, the pair had combined for three more goals, with Henderson's long passing proving very challenging for Pro League defences to deal with.
Things seemed equally rosy away from the pitch, with Henderson posting a supportive video on X after Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host nation for the 2034 World Cup.
AdvertisementGettyOn-field struggles
The honeymoon period did not last, though. Incredibly, of the 12 league matches that followed that comeback, Al-Ettifaq recorded just one league victory. During this period, Henderson underwhelmed massively, failing to register a single goal or assist.
Heading into the mid-season break, Gerrard and Co were a distant eighth in the league table, having won just six of their opening 19 fixtures. For a club with the biggest net spend outside of the state-owned 'big four' – Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad – this was a significant disappointment, especially considering they managed a seventh-placed finish in the 2022-23 season.
This shoddy run of results has left Gerrard under serious pressure, and speaking just before the action paused, he did not spare Henderson from his criticism of the squad.
"It's a collective thing – the players here and now need to give more, and people need to step up and, at the right time, we will hopefully be able to make significant changes to the team and the squad," he said "Hopefully at the back end of January, you will see a different, stronger and more competitive squad. We have already had important meetings at Al-Ettifaq in terms of mid-season updates and where every individual is, and where the group is at."
Whether Henderson will be a part of the setup post-January rebuild remains to be seen. Gerrard's assistant Ian Foster definitely won't be around, with the Englishman having been poached by Plymouth Argyle recently – something which did little to shake the image of Al-Ettifaq as a sinking ship.
GettyEngland place under threat
These poor results will have also got Henderson sweating over his place in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad. So far, the England manager has firmly stood by one of his most-trusted lieutenants – even under intense scrutiny. During a friendly against Australia, Henderson was audibly booed by sections of the Wembley crowd, something he described as "not nice".
"Listen, people have got their own opinions. Whenever I bump into anyone on the street it's always been positive stuff and nice things said. But listen, it won't change who I am and what I do for this team and for my country. I give absolutely everything every time," he said.
Southgate followed this up, saying after the game: "I really don't understand it. He is a player with 79 caps for England. His commitment and what he has delivered for England is exceptional. His role on and off the pitch is phenomenally important."
Henderson then remained in England squad in November, putting in a dreadful display as the Three Lions laboured to victory over Malta, before being dropped to the bench for the following game against North Macedonia. His club performances since then, as well as the form of Conor Gallagher, the emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfield option and the likelihood of Kalvin Phillips getting more regular Premier League minutes by leaving Manchester City, have transformed the landscape considerably since then.
As much as Southgate trusts Henderson, can he really justify selecting a player operating at such a low level any longer? It's a conundrum the midfielder is acutely aware of too.
Asked whether his move to Saudi Arabia could affect his chances of going to the tournament back in October, he said: "There’s no getting away from that. The fitness coaches, sport science coaches are on that and if they see a drop-off, I’m sure the manager will tell me. It hasn’t been an issue so far, I just have to keep an eye on it."
(C)Getty imagesNot happy off the pitch
And it's not just concerns over his career that have got Henderson yearning for a move away. As first reported by the , the Sunderland native is finding day-to-day life in his new surroundings challenging, despite him insisting to that he had "no regrets" over joining Al-Ettifaq as recently as October.
Henderson is understood to have found the high temperatures and humidity difficult, while the sparse attendances have apparently been "less than inspiring" for a player used to Anfield's near-55,000 capacity. In stark contrast, Al-Ettifaq have averaged around 8,000 fans this season – less than almost every English club in the top three tiers, and on par with Chesterfield in the National League.
Some away games have been even more jarring. Back in October, Al-Ettifaq's trip to Al-Riyadh attracted an eerie 696 spectators, comfortably less than the average crowd brought in by Ramsgate in the eighth tier of the English football pyramid this campaign.
His family situation is complex too. Henderson's wife and children currently reside in Bahrain, with the midfielder making the 30-minute commute to Al-Ettifaq training and matches over the King Fahd Causeway. While one source close to the family told that the family have "really integrated" in the country, have claimed that others say things have been more difficult. Although Saudi Arabia is liberalising, with efforts being made to make western immigrants more comfortable, there are still cultural differences which some may find difficult to reconcile.