Ajax agree to early Henderson exit

Ajax have agreed to the early termination of Jordan Henderson’s contract, potentially paving the way for the midfielder to return to the Premier League.

Former Liverpool captain Henderson joined Ajax in January 2024, following a short stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq.

His contract with the Amsterdam giants was due to expire in June 2026, but the club announced on Thursday that he would depart as a free agent.

Henderson has been linked with a return to boyhood club Sunderland, having attended their Championship play-off final victory over Sheffield United in May.

Henderson said in a statement: “I would like to express my immense gratitude to everyone associated with Ajax for giving me the opportunity to represent this incredible institution over the past few years.

“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. They deserve to be celebrating major titles again, and I’m sure that time will come soon.”

Henderson saying farewell to his teammates

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) July 10, 2025

Henderson was appointed Ajax captain shortly after his arrival, leading the team as they missed out on a record-extending 37th Eredivisie crown in agonising fashion last season.

Ajax were nine points clear of PSV with just five games to play, but a return of five points from those matches, coupled with five straight wins for their rivals, saw them miss out.

It was the first time any team had led one of Europe’s top six leagues (Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Eredivisie) by as many as nine points with five matches remaining but failed to win the title.

Technical director Alex Kroes said: “Jordan was a true captain for us, both on and off the pitch.

“A top international player who, through his mentality and leadership qualities, made a significant contribution to our qualification for the UEFA Champions League and further development of Ajax’s elite sporting culture.

“Jordan has meant a great deal to Ajax, and we are grateful to him for that. We wish him all the best as he continues his impressive career.”

Henderson made 57 appearances for Ajax across all competitions, including 37 in the Eredivisie, scoring one goal.