Ajax Confirms Early Termination Of Jordan Henderson's Contract Ahead Of Potential Premier League Return

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Ajax have confirmed the early termination of Jordan Henderson's contract, which may facilitate his return to the Premier League. Henderson, who previously captained Liverpool, joined Ajax in January 2024 after a brief period with Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. Although his contract was set to end in June 2026, Ajax announced on Thursday that he will leave as a free agent.

Henderson has been linked with a potential move back to Sunderland, his boyhood club. He was seen at their Championship play-off final win against Sheffield United in May. Reflecting on his time at Ajax, Henderson expressed gratitude: "I would like to express my immense gratitude to everyone associated with Ajax for giving me the opportunity to represent this incredible institution over the past few years."

Upon joining Ajax, Henderson was quickly appointed as captain. Under his leadership, the team narrowly missed securing their 37th Eredivisie title last season. Despite being nine points ahead of PSV with five games left, they managed only five points from those matches while PSV won all their remaining games.

This marked an unprecedented moment in Europe's top six leagues where a team leading by such a margin failed to clinch the title. Technical director Alex Kroes praised Henderson: "Jordan was a true captain for us, both on and off the pitch."

Kroes highlighted Henderson's influence: "A top international player who, through his mentality and leadership qualities, made a significant contribution to our qualification for the UEFA Champions League and further development of Ajax's elite sporting culture." He added that Henderson has greatly contributed to Ajax and wished him success in his future endeavours.

During his tenure at Ajax, Henderson played 57 matches across all competitions, including 37 appearances in the Eredivisie where he scored one goal. His departure leaves fans reflecting on what might have been had they secured more silverware during his time there.

Henderson's statement continued: "To play for this club was an honour in itself. To have the privilege of captaining it was even more so. My only regret is that we didn't deliver more success for the amazing supporters." He remains hopeful that Ajax will soon celebrate major titles again.