Jordan Henderson has completed his move from Liverpool to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq, joining former teammate Steven Gerrard at the club.
Henderson, 33, becomes the Saudi Pro League side’s latest addition, after the Damman side announced his signing on Thursday, in what is understood to be a three-year deal. The transfer fee is said to be £12 million ($15.5 million).
On his Instgram account, Henderson posted the message: "Delighted to announce I’ve signed for Al Ettifaq. New challenge ahead, can’t wait to get going. Welcome to Saudi Arabia."
In joining Ettifaq, Henderson ended a 12-year stay at Anfield, where he was captain since 2015. He had one year remaining on his existing contract.
This month, Ettifaq appointed Gerrard, Henderson's predecessor as Liverpool captain, as manager as they try to improve on last season’s seventh-placed finish. The east-coast club are two-time Saudi champions, although their most recent title was 1987.
On Wednesday, Ettifaq announced the signing of former Lyon and Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, who is a free agent after spending last season with the French side, and defender Jack Hendry from Club Brugge.
Henderson, a regular England international who still targets a place at next summer's Euro 2024, enjoyed significant success at Liverpool, winning seven major trophies.
In the 2019/20 season, he captained the team to its first Premier League title in 30 years, a season after guiding the club to Uefa Champions League glory.
At Liverpool, Henderson also won the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup. Signed from Sunderland in 2011, he leaves the English club having made 492 appearances.
Henderson met his new teammates on Wednesday at their pre-season training base in Croatia, while he later posted an emotional farewell to Liverpool and the club's fans via social media.
“I am not sure I have any words to sum up how I am feeling right now,” Henderson said. “I am in the dressing room for the last time and as you can imagine it is very emotional. I need to somehow explain what these last 12 years have felt for me and my family.
“Being made the captain of Liverpool Football Club was one of the greatest honours of my life. From the day the armband was passed to me, I did everything I could to behave like a Liverpool captain should.
“The biggest honours at Liverpool weren't personal ones, they were collective... I guess the thing I want to say most of all to you, is just simply, thank you.
“Thank you for allowing me to be part of your club. Thank you for your support, through good times and bad. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made and will continue to make.
“Just know that I will always be a red until the day I die. Thank you for everything. You will never walk alone.”
Ettifaq kick off the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League campaign on August 14, at home to Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr. The Riyadh side were runners-up last season.
