The future of Jordan Henderson has been cast in doubt with Ajax considering cashing in on the England midfielder as the club face not playing in the Champions League
Jordan Henderson could leave Ajax this summer with the club expected to consider selling the midfielder following another disastrous campaign.
The 33-year-old arrived as a free agent in January after terminating his contract at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq, signing a two-and-a-half year deal until June 2026. He made his debut from the start during a 1-1 draw against PSV in February and started eight of the next ten matches.
However, Henderson picked up an injury during the March international break which kept him out for five matches. The former Liverpool captain returned and grabbed an assist in the 4-1 victory over Volendam last Sunday but he might now have just two more games left in Ajax colours.
This is because Ajax are considering the future of Henderson as they deal with the consequences of failing to qualify for the Champions League next season – and potentially the Europa League too. The Dutch club sit fifth in the Eredivisie table and are guaranteed to finish in their lowest league position since 1999.
Ajax are nine points behind fourth-place AZ Alkmaar with two games remaining. It represents another dismal season for the Amsterdam outfit and they could be forced to sell their highest earners, according to The Athletic. Henderson and ex-Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn are among those that could be up for sale.
Although there is ‘no specific desire’ to sell either player, Ajax may have to sell players to balance the books with potentially no prize money coming in from competing in Europe. Henderson is reported to be pocketing £85,000 per week, rising to £110,000 in bonuses, while Bergwijn is on £76,000 per week.
The preference – if possible – would be to trade out other members of the first-team squad. But due to financial constraints, that might not be possible as Ajax juggle having endured a couple of miserable years. Steven Berghuis, Brian Brobbey and Josip Sutalo make up the rest of their five highest earners.
Finishing fifth in the Eredivisie table would only earn Ajax a Europa League qualifier, while spots six to nine contest playoffs for a place in the Europa Conference League. It’s a far cry from expectations when they won the title and qualified for the Champions League under Erik ten Hag in 2021/22.
Speaking after Henderson returned last weekend, boss John van’t Schip said: “He’s been an important player since the beginning who coaches well and makes sure everyone stays alert.
“Of course, Jordan has been out for a while, so he was also concerned with his own performance. He made a good return after his injury and was important for the team.”
DON’T SCRAP REPLAYS! Join our petition to keep the magic of the FA Cup alive!
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
