Why I Dumped Ajax – Ex-Liverpool Captain Speaks On Return To England

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has opened up on the reasons behind his return to the Premier League to join Brentford ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Henderson ended his contract with Ajax Amsterdam by mutual consent last week to seal a return to England.

He spent 12 years with Liverpool, where he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, Community Shield, Super Cup and Club World Cup.

He left Liverpool in 2023 to join Al-Ettifaq, but he left the Saudi Arabian club six months later to join Ajax.

At Ajax, he made 57 appearances before ending his contract a year early to return home.

Henderson signed a two-year deal with Brentford, and he is expected to replace the club’s former captain, Christian Norgaard, who joined Arsenal last week.

The 35-year-old has now opened up on the reasons behind his move to Brentford while expressing his desire to lead the team next season.

Henderson said, “I’m delighted that I’m here. I’m very excited to get started and get going… It was clear to me that I wanted to come here, and it was an easy decision in the end.

“I’ll try my best to pass on my experiences, especially to the younger players. But, at the same time, I still need to perform and do my job on the pitch.

“It’s a given that I’ll help everybody around me, but even at my age, you can still learn a lot, you can still improve, and you can still get better, which is what I want to do at this club.”

Brentford coach Keith Andrews is looking forward to working with Henderson next season.

He said, “When we became aware of Jordan’s availability, it was a pretty simple decision,” said Brentford manager Keith Andrews.

“He’s still phenomenally fit and he’s still phenomenally motivated to achieve things in the game, having already achieved a lot.

“What Jordan will bring is that he has been one of the most influential leaders in modern Premier League years,” Andrews said. “He’s been at the forefront of driving for titles and Champions Leagues at a fantastic football club.

“He will drive standards and be a brilliant addition to the squad.”

Henderson created the joint-highest number of chances of any Ajax player in the Eredivisie last season.

He also completed the most passes and crosses and made the most tackles and interceptions combined of any Ajax midfielder.

Brentford finished 10th in the Premier League last season with 16 wins, eight draws, and 14 defeats.

The Bees will open their 2025-26 Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest on August 17 at the City Ground.

Why I Dumped Ajax – Ex-Liverpool Captain Speaks On Return To England is first published on The Whistler Newspaper