Jordan Henderson set for shock summer transfer after deciding to quit Ajax

Jordan Henderson is set to be available on a free transfer this summer after the veteran England star decided against taking up an option to extend his contract at Ajax

Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson will join a new club this summer after deciding he will not take up an option to extend his contract in Amsterdam, it has emerged.

The former Liverpool captain, 35, moved to the Dutch giants in January 2024 after an ill-fated six month spell in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq. Speculation that he would be on the move again, though, was rife throughout the 2025 January transfer window, though Henderson himself attempted to shoot down such talk.

Reports earlier this summer indicated that Henderson was of interest to his boyhood club, Sunderland, following their promotion to the Premier League.

And while it remains to be seen if Henderson is seeking a return to England, it has been confirmed that he will not be an Ajax player for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

Reports in the Netherlands say that Henderson has travelled to Ajax's training camp in Zeist to say farewell to his team-mates.

He had previously been granted leave by Ajax to attend the funeral of Diogo Jota after his former Liverpool team-mate was tragically killed in a car crash alongside his brother last week.

While Henderson's exit is all but confirmed, it is currently unclear where he will be playing next season, though reports outline that he has suitors both in England and Europe.

The Times report that Henderson has made the decision to try and boost his chances of making the England squad for next year's World Cup after being handed a surprise recall to the national team by Thomas Tuchel.

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They add that Henderson is likely to delay the announcement of his next move out of respect for Jota, whose funeral took place in Gondomar, Portugal on Saturday.

Henderson started his career with Sunderland before moving on to Liverpool in 2011. He won the Premier League and the Champions League during his time as a red before green lighting a shock transfer to the Saudi Pro League back in the summer of 2023.

During his 18 months at Ajax, Henderson made 57 appearances in total. He was heavily linked with a move to Monaco in January.