In a move that has surprised many, Jordan Henderson has accepted a £700,000-a-week deal from a Saudi Arabia club to leave Liverpool.
talkSPORT revealed on Wednesday the Reds skipper had been considering a lucrative switch to join Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, who recently signed on former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as their manager.
Henderson was offered a £700,000-a-week deal from and talkSPORT understands Henderson has now verbally accepted the proposal, in the process becoming the latest high-profile player to swap Europe for Saudi Arabia. Liverpool have put a £20-million price tag on Henderson ahead of talks with Al Ettifaq over a fee, with the two clubs yet to strike a deal.
Reds legend Gerrard made it his priority to lure ex-teammate Henderson over to the Middle East. The Saudi side plan to make the 33-year-old one of the top earners in world football.
His new salary is set to be almost four times the £200k-a-week pay packet the England midfielder is on at Anfield. Henderson has already informed boss Jurgen Klopp of his desire to seek a new adventure abroad, with the German giving his skipper his blessing.
The 77-cap Three Lions international, who has left his teammates stunned by his epic body transformation, has been a key player for Liverpool since arriving in 2011. But there was no guarantee that Henderson would be a regular starter in Merseyside next season following the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Henderson is poised to now play under Gerrard after succeeding him as Liverpool’s captain in 2015. Since joining from the Black Cats, he has scored 34 goals in 492 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool. If the two clubs can agree a fee, he will be departing Anfield as one of their greatest captains of all time, having succeeded Gerrard in 2015.
He created club history last year by becoming the first skipper to win six different pieces of major silverware, after adding the FA Cup to his collection which includes the Champions League, Premier League, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Henderson then added the Community Shield to his trophy cabinet when Liverpool triumphed over Manchester City ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The England star may not be the only Liverpool player making a move to Saudi Arabia, with Fabinho being eyed up by champions Al Ittihad. It has been claimed that Al Ittihad, who have signed Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante this summer, are ready to offer Liverpool £40million.
Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino, who was recently released by Liverpool, has already linked up with Saudi giants Al Ahli.