Ajax make brutal Jordan Henderson call despite lifeline from England boss Thomas Tuchel

England international Jordan Henderson is set to be on the move this summer and hometown club Sunderland are among the candidates for his signature if he leaves Ajax

Jordan Henderson has been told he can leave Ajax for free. The England midfielder, who celebrates his 35th birthday this month, is not in new coach Johnny Heitinga’s plans – and the Dutch club are hoping that talk of newly-promoted Sunderland offering Henderson a return to the Stadium of Light gains more traction now that their stance is clear.

Ajax are desperate to get Henderson’s £100,000-a-week salary off the wage bill after being forced to pay a raft of big-money bonuses following their qualification for the Champions League. Henderson began his career with hometown club Sunderland and was at Wembley to see the Black Cats beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final to secure a £200million return to the top-flight last month.

He has been told by Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel that there is a place for him in England’s World Cup squad next summer if he can maintain his form and fitness – and he started against Andorra on Saturday. Henderson’s experience would be invaluable for Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris to call on – although whether the Wearside club would match the money he earns in Holland remains to be seen.

Ajax moved on Liverpool to make Heitinga their new coach after sacking Francesco Farioli for a dramatic late-season collapse that cost them the Eredivisie title.

Heitinga, who joined Arne Slot ’s backroom staff at Anfield last year, has already arranged the return of former Southampton winger Dusan Tadic to the Johan Cruyff Arena – and the belief is that the Serb will replace Henderson as club captain.

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Henderson moved to Amsterdam in January 2024 in a bid to secure a place in England’s squad for the Euros after an unhappy six months with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq. But Gareth Southgate still didn’t take him to Germany and the player was involved in a row with Ajax during the winter transfer window when they refused to let him take up an offer to join Monaco.

Henderson’s improved form saw him recalled to international duty when Tuchel named his first England squad in March for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Tuchel explained that the former Liverpool skipper is a vital influence for him both on and off the pitch.

Henderson has won 83 caps for his country. When he spoke to the Dutch media following the end-of-season collapse that saw Ajax throw away a nine-point lead in the final five games to allow PSV Eindhoven to snatch the title, he admitted: “I am really proud of what we have achieved this season with Ajax. But next season here? We will have to wait and see.

“The club will have to make decisions. Not just about me, but about other players too. We will also have to sit down at some point with the club and find out what they want to do with the financial situation.

“We have to look at who they want to stay and who they don’t. I just want to have a bit of rest, clear my mind. First the national team and then a real holiday.”

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