Jordon Henderson could be set for Premier League return

Jacque Talbot

• 6 Jan 2024 18:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Jordan Henderson is expressing a desire to make a return to the Premier League, even if he loses millions in wages.

The former Liverpool captain joined Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq last summer for £12million but is already open to considering any offers the club receives in the current transfer window.

Henderson's challenges have been compounded by Al Ettifaq's poor performance, leading to mounting pressure on manager Steven Gerrard, who has not won a match since November. The problems have mounted, with assistant coach Ian Foster resigning to take charge at newly promoted Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

With Foster gone and Gerrard’s job now at stake, the former Sunderland player Henderson is now reconsidering his options, reports the Daily Mail.

It’s believed that he 33-year-old midfielder has faced difficulties adjusting to the different lifestyle, the hot climate conditions, and playing in front of an average attendance of 7,800

Criticism for his move to Saudi Arabia, deemed by some as a betrayal of the LGBTQ+ community, has also taken a toll on Henderson, the same publication claim - and how he has informed teammates about considering his options and plans to take a short holiday during the Saudi Pro League's winter break.

But if Henderson was to make the move out of the Pro League, it would mean losing a huge sum of wages.

How much does Jordon Henderson earn in the Saudi Pro League?

Although Henderson's reported salary at Al Ettifaq of £700,000-a-week, he will not get the tax back if he leaves before two years.

Returning to England after six months would incur a tax bill of approximately £7 million due to Saudi Arabia's flat income tax rate of 20 percent.

Henderson was instrumental in Liverpool’s success in recent years but it was clear that his best days were behind him before he made the move to Saudi Arabia.