LIVERPOOL HAVE agreed a deal worth £12 million (€13.8 million) plus add-ons to sell Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, the PA news agency understands.
The 33-year-old is believed to have reached a verbal agreement with the club — who are now managed by former Anfield team-mate Steven Gerrard — over a reported wage of £700,000 (€808,000) a week.
The Reds captain has been in Germany with the team on their pre-season tour but was left out of Jurgen Klopp’s squad to face Karlsruhe in their first friendly on Wednesday.
He has made 491 appearances since signing for Liverpool from Sunderland for £20m (€23m) in 2011 and skippered the side to the Premier League title and the Champions League.
He has also won the FA Cup and two League Cups.
Last week the England LGBT+ supporters group criticised Henderson as rumours of a move to Saudi Arabia circulated, with the midfielder having been a vocal ally of the LGBT+ community in football.
He wore rainbow laces during England’s run to the Euro 2020 final and has repeatedly voiced his support for greater inclusivity in the game.
Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death in the Gulf state.
A statement from the group read: “Our joy for Mr Henderson when he scored against Ukraine in the Euros (quarter-final) was, in part, due to his kindness and his ‘lucky’ rainbow laces.
“A banner was created to commemorate the low bar he had achieved in being outspoken on our right to support England & show visibility on the pitch.
“If the rumours are true, then that banner will be consigned to the depths of history.”
800k a week for a player at the end of his days!!
Roll on me pension….
Won it all at the greatest club in the world good luck captain
@shane canning: lol….
@Red Rooster: not even greatest club in England
@Red Rooster: ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️
@Gary Galligan:
Anyone saying he’s sold his soul blah blah how could you turn down that money at this stage of his career and considering he’s won almost every honour with Liverpool crazy money
@Ronnie Pickering: They’re saying he sold his soul BECAUSE he couldn’t turn down the money. Surely that’s the definition of selling your soul.
But will anyone even bother watching that Saudi backed football. Sky tried the same with the Chinese Super League…. long forgotten at this stage
@Jp Cleary: might watch it will it be on sky are tnt?
@Jp Cleary: A lot different this time , investment stopped pretty quick and also you were only allowed a certain number of foreign nationals in china. As far as I’m aware it’s not the case in Saudi they may well build a decent league worth watching
@Irish Red Devil: sky are tnt lol
Time to dust me boots off…
Of course nobody will turn down this kind of money. Money talks morals walk. All his rhetoric seems stupid now. Fair play if I could get my work over there for 6 times my current wage I’m off
Any chance of a job
If this keeps going this league will be the go to league instead of the European leagues for the top players.
That’s just silly