Apologetic Henderson - Leaving Saudi a 'football decision' - ESPN

Jordan Henderson has said that his decision to leave Al Ettifaq and sign for Ajax was «a football decision» and apologised to LGBTQIA+ supporters in a news conference on Friday if they felt let down by his move to Saudi Arabia.

Henderson signed a 2½-year contract with Ajax on Thursday after he agreed to terminate his deal with Al Ettifaq, less than six months after signing for the Saudi Pro League club.

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«It was very much a football decision. Of course I've got to make the decision be for me about what's best for me and my family as well.… I think a lot of people would probably like us to sit here and criticise the Saudi league and everything that went along with that, but that certainly wasn't the case and that's something that I'm not going to do.

»I've got full respect for the league, for any fans of the club, for the people over there who really made us feel welcome. But unfortunately these things in life sometimes just don't work out in football and in life in general."

Henderson was criticised for his move to Saudi Arabia given the country's poor human rights record, including laws that state homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death.

He had been an outspoken advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community before the transfer, but insisted he was not solely motivated by money and relished the opportunity to make the Saudi league «one of the best in the world» in an interview with The Athletic in September.

Henderson, 33, offered an apology to LGBTQIA+ supporters if they felt let down by his move to the Saudi Pro League in July.

«If any people from that community feel let down or hurt, I apologise. I did that six months ago, I'll do it again,» Henderson said.

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