Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp spoke about former Reds midfielder Jordan Henderson, who left Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq to join Ajax.
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“I am happy for him. It looks like he’s happy and that’s the most important thing to me”, said Klopp on Thursday (18). Henderson joined Al-Ettifaq in July 2023 and signed a three-year deal, thought to be worth £700,000 a week.
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The midfielder was criticized about the move after being a prominent supporter of the LGBTQ+ community while at Liverpool. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Saudi Arabia, but Henderson said that he had been “really hurt” by the backlash to his move, adding his intention has always been to “help causes and communities”
Despite the critics, Henderson only had 17 league appearances, and seems that he failed to settle in Saudi Arabia, now moving to Ajax. “I haven’t spoken to him about it. From time to time I forget that I actually don’t read these kind of stories that people are critical of the move, first there and now coming back”, said Klopp.
“I don’t know how we dare to judge these kind of things, we have one life and sometimes the decisions are perfect in the first place and sometimes it is different after you make them. He was there and it was 100% an interesting experience”, continued the manager.
“When I spoke to him [he said] 99% it was football wise absolutely fine. It’s the start of something, not like it is here, and many things to develop there in the future but he was not critical of it. Ajax is a sensational club in a difficult moment. Ajax always played the best football when they have combined their real talent with experience”, added Klopp.
