"You know, years ago, for instance, women or kids probably couldn't play football, but now I'm over there and there's loads of women and girls playing football, so slowly things can change. I can't promise anything, but what I can do is sit here and say I have my values and beliefs. And I strongly believe that me playing in Saudi Arabia is a positive thing."
Can you have too much of a positive thing? Well, so far as Jordan Henderson is concerned, it seems he's had his fill after a good six months of positivity.
Numerous opinions and column inches were churned out when former England midfielder and staunch LGBTQ+ ally Henderson decided to bring the curtain down on a superb Liverpool career and join Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq. Whatever your views on the move were, as the quote above given to The Athletic demonstrates, scrambling around for a move at the first opening of a transfer window was not in the script.
As reported by The Daily Mail, the 33-year-old has struggled to settle in Saudi Arabia, with his unhappiness compounded on the pitch. Al Ettifaq are winless in eight matches, a run that has piled pressure on boss Steven Gerrard, Henderson's former Liverpool teammate.
After such a lucrative and extensively discussed goodbye, Henderson returning to the Premier League would be a remarkable U-turn. In terms of his hopes of remaining in the England squad for Euro 2024, it would be potentially very prudent. But is it viable?
Here we run through why Henderson apparently wants to return to England, and a few of his options should he move back. Some may be more serious than others...
MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold injury latest: How long is he out?
Why is Jordan Henderson leaving Saudi Arabia?
On January 6, Matt Hughes of The Daily Mail reported that Henderson was eager to leave Saudi Arabia after less than six months following his transfer to Al Ettifaq from Liverpool.
The report claimed that Henderson "has struggled to settle" in the country, something made worse by the team's poor performances under Gerrard. Al Ettifaq won just one of their final 13 games in 2023.
Gerrard's assistant, Ian Foster, has already resigned, and there is a suggestion that his departure was another blow given that the former Liverpool academy coach helped to persuade Henderson to make the move.
The player is also said to have found it difficult to adjust to a new lifestyle in the country, struggled with the hot and humid playing conditions, and felt it has been "less than inspiring" to play in front of average home crowds of just 7,800 fans. Criticism of his decision to move in the first place has also had an impact, the Mail story said.
Henderson reportedly earns a weekly wage of approximately $890,000 and, if he were to leave Al Ettifaq in January, he would stand to lose a significant sum of money in both salary and taxes.
Which Premier League teams could sign Jordan Henderson?
If Henderson does indeed want to return to England, we've picked out a few options and assessed how likely they might be.
Liverpool
A fairly well-trodden course of action when a player makes a left-field move that doesn't come off is to scarper back to whence they came. However, Henderson ended a 12-year Liverpool career after Jurgen Klopp informed him he would not start as many games this season. Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo have all joined since and Curtis Jones is enjoying some of the most accomplished form of his young career.
Klopp's main worries over the coming weeks as he tries to keep Liverpool on top of the Premier League will be Trent Alexander-Arnold's knee injury and Mohamed Salah being absent at the Africa Cup of Nations. Central midfield is not an area of concern.
Chelsea
The Sun reported Chelsea were on "high alert" over Henderson's sudden availability. Does that make sense? No, not really — but which Chelsea transfers do nowadays?
If the Blues opt to sell homegrown star Conor Gallagher to ease the stress on their balance sheet, Henderson could be a good short-term solution to make up the midfield numbers. Him arriving at Stamford Bridge would also help to offset Romeo Lavia's ongoing fitness woes and mean 39-year-old Thiago Silva feels less like he's running an on-field creche.
Everton
Some delicious narrative here and, let's face it, Henderson knows the Merseyside area. Beyond making mischief, there is something to be said for this. As Sean Dyche continues his battle to turn the Everton ship around, Henderson could be just the sort of character he needs.
If the Toffees decide to cash in on the Arsenal-linked Amadou Onana this month, Henderson could come in as a cut-price replacement who could hit the ground running and smooth over any financial fair play worries.
Ajax
The seriousness or otherwise of our Premier League suggestions so far means we might have to look a bit further afield. Handily, transfers doyen Fabrizio Romano has reported Ajax are showing "concrete interest" in Henderson.
Sadly for the Dutch giants, it's been more a case of concrete boots for most of this season. An eight-match unbeaten run in the Eredivisie has at least lifted them clear of an unimaginable relegation battle but they are 23 points shy of leaders PSV, out of the KNVB Cup and down in the Europa Conference League after a poor Europa League campaign.
Henderson would be a leader to bring stability and experience to a squad showing tentative signs of recovery under John van 't Schip.
🚨🏴 EXCL: Ajax are showing concrete interest in signing Jordan Henderson in case he’ll get green light to leave Al Ettifaq in January transfer window.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 9, 2024
There are several clubs keen, waiting for Saudi club decision — but Henderson is looking for options and Ajax are there. pic.twitter.com/WWkvbO6RnV
Celtic
Henderson's breakthrough as a truly elite player came when he starred in Liverpool's unlikely bid for the 2013/14 Premier League title. Brendan Rodgers was his manager at Anfield then, making links to Celtic in the Daily Record this week not entirely unsurprising.
Some might have doubts about the standard of the Scottish Premiership for a player hoping to make England's Euro 2024 squad. But, on the evidence of what we've seen during its first star-laden season, it would be a step up from the Saudi Pro League.
Bayern Munich
A report by talkSPORT claimed Henderson had been offered to the Bundesliga giants. This one is not as far-fetched as it initially sounds: England teammate Harry Kane has been superb since moving to the Allianz Arena and boss Thomas Tuchel has been linked with several other Premier League names.
Eric Dier is reportedly closing in on the same move from Spurs to Bayern and out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips has also been linked. Why Tuchel's Bayern are seeking this profile of player is not entirely clear, but it's one that Henderson certainly fits.
Manchester City
Phillips' failure to adapt to life at City has left Rodri with a very heavy workload. The treble winners have lost all three Premier League games the Spain international has missed this term. Getting towards the business end of the season, an experienced head to play at the base of the midfield against lesser opponents and let Rodri rest his weary legs might come in handy.
Now, obviously, this one is never going to happen despite the solid logic outlined above. But can you imagine, in the heat of a potential City vs. Liverpool title race? This option is pure, undiluted, uncut, 100 percent Barclays.
Sunderland
Instead of trashing plenty of a reputation so hard-earned over the course of an excellent career, maybe this is the new challenge to which Henderson always should have looked. A Sunderland lad who came through his hometown club's youth system before joining Liverpool and becoming one of England's mainstays, seeing him return to where it all began would be irresistible.
Sunderland are sixth in the Championship and pushing for a second playoff appearance in as many seasons. Henderson could head back to the Stadium of Light, give things a shot in the arm under recently appointed boss Michael Beale and lead the Black Cats back to the Premier League. The romantics' choice.
