After six months, he may again be faced with leaving Ajax, writes Football International. The 33-year-old Englishman came over last winter as the desired experienced reinforcement from the Saudi Al-Ettifaq, but the collaboration has not yet been optimal on both sides.
There are doubts within Ajax as to whether the club would be wise to continue with Henderson, who is still on contract until mid-2026. The former Liverpool player has not made a stunning impression in the handful of matches he has been able to participate in since his arrival. managed to do,” writes reporter Tim van Duijn of the aforementioned weekly magazine. “In addition, he missed a crucial period because he was injured when Ajax needed him most. As a result, the collaboration can be called unfortunate for the time being,” it reads.
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The player himself would also still doubt whether his future lies in Amsterdam or not. “Henderson is very popular within Ajax, but in turn has raised eyebrows about the state of affairs at the club. This has not only to do with the lack of quality on the field, but also with the mentality of fellow players and the lack to a top sports culture in Amsterdam,” writes Van Duijn.
The fact that the arrival of Henderson’s compatriot Graham Potter has been canceled – the former Chelsea coach was in the picture for a long time as the new head coach but pulled the plug on the negotiations on Thursday – also does not do any good for Henderson’s future prospects at Ajax. “It is no secret that Henderson would have liked to see Potter join the group at Ajax,” Van Duijn points out. After the Englishman’s withdrawal, the club moves on to the other two candidates on the shortlist, Erik ten Hag and Francesco Farioli.
Kroes
The question remains whether Henderson, who bought out his Saudi contract so that Ajax did not have to transfer a transfer fee, will still be able to be admired in the Johan Cruijff ArenA next season: “Discussions will undoubtedly be held about this with technical director Alex Kroes. The question is whether Ajax will want to keep Henderson on board with a strong football story, or whether it is better to part ways.”
Mountain wine
Henderson is according to the English The Athletic not the only big earner who is nominated to leave Ajax at the end of the season. Captain Steven Bergwijn could also leave because the Amsterdam team, currently fifth in the Eredivisie, does not have to expect any income from the Champions League or the Europa League next season. The club would have no preference whether it is Henderson or Bergwijn who leaves. However, parting with at least one of them might be necessary to remain financially balanced.
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