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Liverpool players and Klopp say their goodbyes as Jordan Henderson leaves for Al-Ettifaq

Liverpool players and manager Jurgen Klopp say their goodbyes as captain Jordan Henderson leaves for Saudi club Al-Ettifaq.

The 33 year old England midfielder makes a switch for life in Saudi Arabia in a deal worth £12m plus add-ons.

Hendo announces that he would be leaving the club after 12 years during which he won the Premier League and Champions League, having been with the Reds since leaving Sunderland in a deal worth £20m in June 2011.

He made 492 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 33 goals and registering 57 assists, and earned himself seven major trophies with the club.

Henderson now links up with ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who is manager of Al-Ettifaq.

The pair were team-mates before Gerrard left in 2015.

LIVERPOOL STATEMENT:

Liverpool Football Club can confirm Jordan Henderson has completed a transfer to Al-Ettifaq.

The move to the Saudi Pro League side sees the midfielder bring an end to his 12-year Reds career, during which he lifted eight trophies, all but one of which as club captain.

Henderson moved to Anfield from Sunderland in the summer of 2011 as then-manager Sir Kenny Dalglish added him to the ranks.

He would feature in more matches than any other player during his first season at the club – and claim a maiden winner’s medal in the League Cup – but a change in boss in 2012 saw him need to re-establish himself as a regular in Liverpool’s starting line-up.

Nevertheless, the determination and resilience Henderson demonstrated throughout his career with the club helped him cement a position as a key member of Brendan Rodgers’ team.

Indeed, in 2013-14 he was pivotal in the Reds’ electrifying title charge and earned himself a place in England’s World Cup finals squad.

By now, Henderson was the club’s vice-captain and he was appointed the successor to the armband on a full-time basis when the legendary Steven Gerrard called time on his Liverpool playing career the following summer.

The appointment of Jürgen Klopp in October 2015 heralded the arrival of the third manager of Henderson’s Reds story – though it would mark the start of a resurgence in the club’s fortunes in which he was fundamental.

A return to the Champions League was secured in 2016-17 and the team went on to reach the final at the conclusion of the subsequent term, though it ended in heartbreak with defeat by Real Madrid in Kyiv.

Liverpool would respond in the best possible fashion, however, posting a 97-point season in the Premier League – missing out on the title by the most minuscule of fractions after just a solitary loss – and claiming a sixth European Cup by beating Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.

The scenes of Henderson hoisting aloft the trophy in the Spanish capital would become a regular sight over the coming years. The UEFA Super Cup was added next, followed by a first ever FIFA Club World Cup success for Liverpool in December 2019.

Domestically, the Reds were untouchable, too – winning 26 of their opening 27 games and drawing the other.

The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily paused the season; however, the resumption of football in June 2020 would enable Liverpool to end a 30-year wait to be crowned league champions, with Henderson lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield in a 99-point term.

Injuries were a contributing factor in a difficult 2020-21 for Klopp’s team, though they would roar back with purpose as they challenged on all four fronts throughout the next campaign.

The Carabao Cup and FA Cup were added to the trophy cabinet, while the Premier League and Champions League narrowly evaded the team’s grasp at the final hurdles.

In what would prove to be his final season as a Liverpool player, Henderson tallied 43 games in all competitions in 2022-23, taking his overall number to 492, supplemented by 33 goals. Indeed, only Jamie Carragher and Gerrard have made more Premier League appearances for the Reds.

As his Anfield chapter now comes to a close with a move to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, everybody at Liverpool Football Club wishes to place on record their thanks and gratitude for everything Jordan Henderson did for the club during his 12 years as a Red.

Jürgen, it’s been announced that Jordan Henderson is leaving Liverpool Football Club. How do you feel now it is time to say goodbye?

In the moment, it is absolutely fine but it was already ongoing for a while now, so we had time to adapt to it and get used to it. It is football, it is life, it is normal, these kind of things happen. Monday when we arrived back in Liverpool, Hendo was waiting for us to say goodbye properly to the team and to the coaching staff as well, so that was a really nice gesture – a really nice thing to do. I know it was a really, really tough decision for Hendo and I was around or with him all the way. It’s sad, absolutely strange, because he is the only captain I had here at Liverpool, but I think it is exciting for him as well. We will miss him, without a shadow of a doubt, that’s clear – as a man and as a player. But, as I said, that’s football.

Take us back to when you arrived, Jordan was the captain, what do you remember of him and how much has he changed since then?

Hendo was injured when I arrived here. Seven-and-a-half years later, knowing him that well, it must have been for him an absolute nightmare because obviously [he was] still new-ish in the role of a captain and then Hendo’s desire to prove himself constantly, on and off the pitch, then a new manager is coming in and he could do neither nor. For him, for sure, it was horrible – you would have to ask him properly about that, but I am pretty sure. I remember he came into my office and asked me if he could come with us for the first game against Tottenham. Only later on, I realised that’s quite common in England: that players ask for away games and stuff like this. We did that a couple of times with Millie later, but at that time I thought, ‘What do you want to do there? Is it not better you train because you are injured?’ I understand now he wanted to show immediately [his] value for the team, which he was not 100 per cent sure about in that moment. I was. I was, I knew when Hendo came back, I knew him from before, I liked him a lot as a player, this box-to-box midfielder, the energy he brought on the pitch, leadership and all these things. So many things I liked about the player before I knew him as a man.

It was tough for him, but from that moment on I would say, besides a few injuries, it was a pure success story since then. I know, and it is always like this in life, people will only appreciate him properly after he has left. That’s how it is. I think he didn’t get the proper appreciation or respect he would have deserved over the years – from some for sure, but not from all. Now he leaves, I would say, not on the highest high because obviously last season was not fantastic, but [he is] leaving on a high and I think that’s good. In the future when people are looking back then they will realise Jordan Henderson was the skipper of [our] most successful squad until then – I hope we can create another one – and the skipper of the first Premier League title winners and all these kind of things. That’s a special career. He should be and will be in the future proud of it.

How would you sum him up as a player on the pitch? What are the things he has brought over the years?

Hendo is a really good package, a really good package. There is the physical part, but there is the super-technical part. He is technically really, really good. Which sometimes players, because of the role they see themselves [in] on the pitch, this fighter and stuff like this, don’t always show. You cannot have this amount of Premier League games, you cannot be captain of Liverpool, you cannot play in the most important games in the world if you are technically not on a super-high level – and he is. Right foot, left foot really good. Tactically he improved the most since we are here, had to play different positions, did that really well. Even played centre-half for us. Had to play No.6, I thought he played a few outstanding games on six.

Let me say, this midfield Fabinho, Hendo, Gini and then Millie, these four for three positions, I think nobody would have said it would be a successful midfield because something is lacking – but nothing was lacking because the boys were all a real package. That’s what was so good and Hendo was a super-important part of that. Some great goals and now after he leaves, we will remember even the goals; there were maybe not exactly as many as there could have been, but some fantastic goals. One I will never forget was the one at Chelsea, it was a real screamer into the far corner. Top-class professional, top bloke and a really, really, really good player. That’s what you need to be if you want to play that long for Liverpool.

Here’s what fans had to say while Liverpool players and Klopp say their goodbyes as Jordan Henderson leaves for Al-Ettifaq…

@TheBigLFC: Jurgens eyes look full of tears I swear

@MewesRob: I was so proud of you and how you represented the place we both came from. That respect has been lost from your recent decisions. I fear for football’s future and for the next generation looking up to people like you. So, so disappointed.

@Tombellylfc: Disappointed in your choice of where to go and how to end it. You have let plenty of people down. But I am thankful for everything you have done for the Club. A captain who has won everything. Thankyou

@LiamHar6786313: Thank you captain. The best 12 years a Liverpool fan could have. Seeing you develop from just a young man who was struggling with injuries and could not stay in the team, to becoming an incredible captain and an incredible player too.

@jcanavarro: It was truly an honour to have you as captain on and off the pitch and you cud see how much it meant to you everytime u stood on the pitch and gave 💯 every second 💪Wish u all the best on ur next chapter .. YNWA 🤝

@janrye72: For 12 years you’ve carried and fought for our Football Club, winning everything we could ever dream of. You lifted those trophies on our behalf. For that, thank you. We’ll never forget. But your next chapter, the place you’re going to, I just don’t get it.

@PaulRoo6Times: As a professional football player, apart from Winning Trophies and the success and rewards that brings, it is the acknowledgment and faith/trust that your Management have in you that is key, sure fan’s opinions are there but respect from the Man who is the Man is clear to see ❤️⚽️

@Chapperz_7: He’s not wrong 12 years at the club, pretty sure he joined as a winger transitioned to centre mid, gave everything, captained us to the full set no matter how good our team is/was. Will deffo be a legend in my eyes and easily deserves that title. Good luck Hendo. YNWA

@MeadeEvan: Goodbye my captain. Thanks for the 12 hard fought years and the commitment. And finally sealing a Premier league title after so many years. May your football career carry on for many more years. YNWA

@JonW_67: Beyond grateful for your leadership, on and off the pitch. Beyond hopeful that you’ll show the same bravery in Saudi and wear your rainbow laces in your first game. Otherwise so much of what you’ve stood for in the community will seem so hollow.

@youngquincy33b: Our success wouldn’t of been possible without the likes of hendo and Milner. What a lovely message of appreciation to the Skipper 🙂

@Anarky187: I’m absolutely gutted he has gone, a gentleman and true legend. People will realise how much he drives this team on now he has gone. Just because he is not the best in the world doesn’t mean he should be judged on that. Jordan emphasises the words hard work as no one works harder

@togster5050: It’s very sad when a great captain leaves the club. It’s even more sad that this great captain didn’t get the farewell he deserved infront of the Kop. I think #LFCFamily shud ask the club 2 bring back
@JHenderson as a guest at a match so the fans can thank him 4 what he has done

@UlsterCalvinist: Good to see Henderson getting the respect he deserves from the manager and his colleagues after all this needless, negative garbage in recent days about his move. A legend who has won everything.

@Logicull: I still can’t believe you’re leaving, feels so sudden and unexpected. I have repped you on this app and fought on your behalf for years. Thanks for absolutely everything Jordan, all the memories and this emotional ride, and good luck on your future endeavours. This one hurts a lot ❤️

@shornKOOMINS: However it’s come to an end you’ve been one of the great Liverpool captains.

@Bavew97: Thanks for the good times, but you’ve tossed it all in the bin with this move. Sincerely hope you go on to do a serious amount of good with the money you’re getting.

@HeleneKassandra: As a LFC fan, I want to thank you for everything! We couldn’t have asked for a better captain, and I wish you all the best! As a woman and a member of LGBT+ however I’m extremely disappointed.

@crazyitalian7: Hopefully we get to see you in future legends game so can give you the farewell we wasn’t able to give. What a journey. You did the club and fans proud with your inspiration as captain and as the engine in midfield with the intense pressing non stop running ynwa legend ❤️

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