Henderson: 'Difficult year' for him and new team Ajax
The 33-year-old former Liverpool star never settled at Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, lasting only six months amid a firestorm of criticism from gay rights activists, who saw the move as hypocritical. "It's been a bit of a whirlwind, crazy few days," acknowledged Henderson in an interview posted on the club website.
Henderson is an outspoken advocate for gay rights and his move to Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is illegal, sparked accusations he was putting money above principles. Ajax meanwhile suffered their worst-ever start to a Dutch top flight season, briefly propping up the Eredivisie table, with fans' frustration boiling over into violence.
"It's been a difficult year or so for the club both on and off the field. But that's the same for me in the past six months," said Henderson. "So hopefully we can help each other come together and help each other go forward and try to be as successful as possible in the near future."
Henderson's move to Saudi Arabia - with reported wages of up to £700,000 per week - followed high-profile signings of the likes of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and France's 2022 Ballon D'Or winner Karim Benzema. The world's biggest oil exporter has thrown hundreds of millions at sports deals including Formula One in Jeddah and the lucrative LIV Golf tour, drawing frequent claims it is "sportswashing" its human rights record.
Saad Allazeez, Vice Chairman and interim CEO of the Saudi league, said some people "don't always adjust or settle." "Everyone tried and no one is to blame," he added.
Ajax boss John van 't Schip is hoping Henderson's experience - he has won 81 England caps and played nearly 500 times for Liverpoo - can boost his young squad. "I know there's a lot of younger players in the squad
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