Former Liverpool skipper Henderson leaves Dutch giants Ajax

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jordan Henderson. [Courtesy]

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jordan Henderson is leaving Dutch giants Ajax one year before his contract was due to expire, the club announced on Thursday.

The 35-year-old joined Amsterdam-based Ajax in a blaze of glory in January 2024, only six months after his move from Liverpool to Saudi Arabia sparked controversy over gay rights.

An outspoken advocate for the gay community, his transfer to Saudi club Al-Ettifaq had prompted accusations he was putting money above principles.

But he quickly put that controversy behind him, as Ajax appointed him club captain and he made 57 appearances in the shirt made famous by the likes of Johan Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp.

With Henderson as the driving force, Ajax bounced back from one of their worst-ever seasons to challenge for the Eredivisie title last year.

However, they contrived to throw away the opportunity to be crowned Dutch champions, giving up a nine-point lead with only five matches to play -- handing the title to bitter rivals PSV Eindhoven.

Ajax Technical Director Alex Kroes described Henderson as "a true captain for us, both on and off the pitch."

"Through his mentality and leadership qualities, he made a significant contribution to our qualification for the UEFA Champions League," said Kroes.

Henderson's form for Ajax earned him a surprise recall to Thomas Tuchel's first England squad in March and he voiced his thanks for the opportunities in Amsterdam.

"To play for this club was an honour in itself. To have the privilege of captaining it was even more so," he said in a statement.

He said he would not be making further comments, given the "tragic events of last week, and the devastating loss of my former teammate Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva."

Liverpool and Portugal star Jota was killed along with his sibling last week when his car sped off a motorway in Spain.