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Jordan Henderson appears likely to secure a move back to European football with Ajax, marking the end of a widely condemned period in Saudi Arabia.
Henderson left Liverpool last summer to join Al-Ettifaq, but the Saudi club appear likely to terminate the England midfielder’s contract to allow him to join the Eredivisie side. New reports suggest that Henderson may not even have yet been compensated for his time in Middle Eastern country’s Pro League.
According to The Telegraph, the 33-year-old player has not received payment from Al-Ettifaq as he chose to delay his wages. He may potentially not receive his weekly salary of approximately £350,000.
This may have been due to the tax laws of the United Kingdom, which consider an individual a resident if they spend more than 90 days in the country.
Henderson has come back to England to visit loved ones and represent the country, potentially surpassing the threshold for UK taxation on his income.
The transfer of the midfielder faced backlash, especially since Henderson had previously shown strong support for the LGBTQ+ community. In Saudi Arabia, both homosexual activity among men and women is considered illegal.
I never intended to harm anyone. My goal has always been to support causes and communities,” Henderson explained to The Athletic in September. “I genuinely care about the various causes and communities I have been a part of. It hurts me deeply when people criticize me and claim that I have abandoned them.
I deeply apologize for making others feel a certain way. However, my core personality remains unchanged.
Source: independent.co.uk
