Liverpool lose captain Jordan Henderson as Al Ettifaq transfer is completed

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    Jordan Henderson has now completed his move to Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq – bringing the curtain down on his 12-year stay at Liverpool.

    The former Reds skipper penned a three-year contract and will earn a whopping £700k-a-week out in Saudi Arabia. And in the club's statement, they said: "As his Anfield chapter now comes to a close with a move to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, everybody at Liverpool Football Club wishes to place on record their thanks and gratitude for everything Jordan Henderson did for the club during his 12 years as a Red."

    Liverpool have received a fee of £12m which can be put towards new faces coming in at Anfield before the summer transfer window shuts.

    Jurgen Klopp has already lined up Southampton's Romeo Lavia as his No1 midfield target, with talks ongoing over a deal following Liverpool's £37m rejected bid earlier this week.

    READ MORE: Liverpool fans fury as 'leaked' video shows Jordan Henderson 'already training in Saudi'

    Henderson, meanwhile, leaves the Reds under something of a cloud, having been videoed in training with Steven Gerrard's team before a transfer was even announced this week.

    His years of support for the LGBTQ+ community and the controversy around Saudi Arabia's stance has been difficulty for many to take too, with homosexuality being illegal in the country.

    On Wednesday night, Henderson released a video message to Liverpool fans explaining what the club means to him, although it was noticed that Klopp was not mentioned by the England international.

    Will Jordan Henderson regret his move to the Saudi Pro League? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

    Henderson, 33, said: "I am not sure I have any words to sum up how I am feeling right now. I am in the dressing room for the last time so as you can imagine it's very emotional.

    "But I need to somehow explain what these last 12 years have felt for me and my family. I can still remember that June night back in 2011 clearly, being dead excited but then becoming even more nervous when the move from Sunderland became a reality.

    "It was hard leaving there, I have to be honest. My home town, my club, but when Liverpool come knocking – you don't say no.

    "Driving in through those old Melwood gates, meeting Damien [Comolli], the spinning feeling in my stomach, feeling a little shy meeting Sir Kenny [Dalglish], it all seems like yesterday.

    "When I see the footage back now, I'm just a kid. Who would have ever imagined that night how the next 12 years would go.

    "I can't lie. There has been hard times, really hard times, but when I look back at my career at Liverpool, it will always be the good times that I remember – and those good times, again, where do I start?

    "Being made 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 with number six, the most perfect night and probably my favourite night actually. You've seen it I'm sure, but with the emotion, it was impossible not to be emotional. But then when we came home, there were no words for that experience. You were everywhere, literally everywhere; in the trees, on roofs, on cars, up lamp posts and 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 year says everything about the club and its supporters – the best in the world, there can be no doubt, there is no doubt.

    "And then bringing number 19 home. We knew as players what ending that wait meant to you. We knew how important it was to make Liverpool champions again.

    "And that leads me onto Anfield. The most special place in the world to play football, how can anyone think it isn't? I am sad I won't have the chance to play at a bigger Anfield, but I know what impact it will have on the opponents.

    "I guess the thing I want to say most of all, is just simply, 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 commitments you made and will continue to make to follow us all over the world.

    "Just know that I will always be a red until the day I die. Thank you for everything. You will never walk alone. Jordan."

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