Jordan Henderson has left Ajax after mutually agreeing with the club to terminate his contract a year before its expiration. The 35-year-old England midfielder, who joined the Dutch giants in January 2024, had originally signed a deal that was set to run until June 2026.
Henderson made over 50 appearances for Ajax and was handed the captain’s armband during his short time in Amsterdam. He departs after helping the team push for the Eredivisie title, only to fall short on the final day of the season as PSV Eindhoven were crowned champions.
In a statement, Henderson expressed gratitude to the club and its supporters. “I would like to express my immense gratitude to everyone associated with Ajax.
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 said.
Henderson’s departure comes at a difficult time personally, as he returned to Merseyside in recent days to mourn the tragic death of his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident along with his brother Andre Silva.
“Due to the tragic events of last week, and the devastating loss of my former team-mate Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, it doesn’t feel right at this moment to say or do more than share this brief statement,” Henderson said.
“I am fully aware that I owe [Ajax], my team-mates, and the supporters a fuller and more personal thank you. I will, of course, do that when the time feels more appropriate. For now, I want to express my appreciation to Ajax once again, as well as everyone I haven’t had the chance to speak to in person yesterday, all of you who make this club so special.”
The veteran midfielder is now a free agent and is believed to be attracting interest from clubs in England and across Europe.
Henderson joined Ajax following a brief and turbulent stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq, where he lasted less than six months despite signing a three-year deal.
Prior to that, he spent 12 highly successful years at Liverpool, where he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and the Community Shield.
His future remains undecided for now, but the former Liverpool captain is expected to weigh his next move carefully following his exit from Ajax and in light of recent personal circumstances.