Jordan Henderson set to move to Dutch club Ajax in blow to Saudi soccer league

2024-12-25 10:42:58 source:lotradecoin platform updates and news category:Finance

AMSTERDAM (AP) — England soccer international Jordan Henderson arrived in Amsterdam on Thursday amid reports he was about to sign a deal with struggling Dutch powerhouse Ajax to end his troubled six-month spell in the Saudi Pro League.

Henderson was pictured in the Dutch city by British broadcaster Sky Sports, which said he met with Ajax representatives and would be signing a 2 1/2-year contract after taking a medical examination.

The 33-year-old Henderson’s transfer is seen as a move to consolidate his place in the England squad ahead of the European Championship in Germany starting in June. But it also is a blow for the Saudi league, whose cashed-up clubs have signed a slew of big-name stars, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo.

Henderson signed in July for Al-Ettifaq where he joined another former Liverpool captain in Steven Gerrard, who manages the team. The move sparked a fierce backlash from the LGBTQ+ community.

Other news Christian Pulisic voted top US men’s soccer player for fourth time, tying Landon Donovan Irvine goal sees Australia advance to knockout stage of the Asian Cup Bundesliga game between Mainz and Union Berlin postponed because of ice in the stadium

Amnesty International cautions that in Saudi Arabia, members of the LGBT community, including foreigners “risk imprisonment and corporal punishment for same-sex relations, expressing their identity or support for LGBT rights.”

Henderson had previously signaled his support for inclusivity by wearing rainbow-colored laces as part of an initiative by LGBTQ+ campaign group Stonewall.

Henderson, who has made 81 appearances for England, struggled to lift his team in Saudi Arabia. Al-Ettifaq currently is in eighth place in the Saudi Pro League.

Ajax, a four-time European champion, has struggled this season just to remain competitive with Dutch teams. Ajax is heading back toward the upper reaches of the Dutch top flight after a disastrous start to the season that saw the club part company with coach Maurice Steijn after just winning just one of its first seven games of the season.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

More:Finance

Recommend

Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others

THOMASTON, Maine (AP) — Kaja Veilleux has been hunting New England attic treasures for more than 50

Cicadas will soon become a massive, dead and stinky mess. There's a silver lining.

This spring will see billions of periodical cicadas emerge in lawns and gardens across a broad swath

Federal judge tosses Democrats’ lawsuit challenging Wisconsin absentee voting requirements

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by Democrats that challenged W