An ’emotional’ Jordan Henderson has bid farewell to Liverpool ahead of his controversial move to Saudi Arabia.
After it became apparent that Henderson wanted to leave despite being contracted for another two years and wearing the captain’s armband since 2015, Liverpool agreed a deal worth £12m with Al-Ettifaq.
In a video posted on social media, Henderson said: ‘It’s hard to put these last 12 years into words and it’s even harder to say goodbye. I will always be a Red. Until the day I die. Thank you for everything. You’ll never walk alone.’
A number of high-profile players have moved to Saudi Arabia this summer, including Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema and former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Kylian Mbappe is also the subject of a world record £259m bid from Saudi side Al-Hilal.
During his 12-year spell at Liverpool, Henderson made 492 appearances and captained the club to their first Premier League title in 30 years, as well as Champions League glory in 2019.
The England midfielder has faced criticism since agreeing to move to Saudi – where same-sex sexual activity is illegal – as a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
Henderson, 33, added: ‘I’m not sure I have any words to describe how I’m feeling right now.
‘I’m in the dressing room for the last time so as you can imagine it is very emotional. But I need to somehow explain what these last 12 years have meant for me and my family.
‘I can still remember that journey back in 2011 clearly, being dead excited but then becoming nervous as the move from Sunderland became a reality.
‘It was hard leaving there, I have to be honest, my hometown club but when Liverpool come knocking you don’t say no.
‘Driving in through those old Melwood gates, the spinning feeling in my stomach, feeling a little shy meeting Sir Kenny, it all seems like yesterday. When I see the footage back now, I was just a kid.
‘Who would have ever imagined that night how the next 12 years would go. I can’t lie, there have been hard times, really hard times. But when I look back on my career at Liverpool, it will always be the good times I remember.
‘And those good times… where do I start? 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. But the biggest honours at Liverpool weren’t personal ones, they were collective.
‘All of us, all of you, together. Starting in Madrid, the most perfect night, probably my most favourite night. It was impossible not to be emotional.
‘But then when we came home there were no words for that experience, you were literally everywhere. In the trees, in the windows, on roofs, on cars, up lampposts, even on scaffolding.
‘From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving us that welcome, not just once, but to do it again even after we lost the Champions League final last season says everything about the club and it’s supporters.
‘The best in the world, there can be no doubt, there is is no doubt.
‘Then bringing No. 19 home, we knew as players what ending that wait meant to you. We knew how important is was to make Liverpool champions again.
‘I guess the thing I want to say most to you is thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your club. Thank you for your support in good times and bad. Thank you for all the sacrifices and commitment you made.’
Henderson made 43 appearances for Liverpool last season as Jurgen Klopp’s side finished fifth in the Premier League, failing to qualify for the Champions League.
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