Jordan Henderson Nears Sunderland Return After Leaving Ajax

Jordan Henderson, the 35-year-old English midfielder and former Liverpool captain, is set to return to his boyhood club Sunderland AFC following the expiration of his contract with Ajax. After a brief stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al Ettifaq and a subsequent move to Ajax where he became club captain, Henderson chose not to extend his contract and rejected a move to FC Porto. Sunderland, recently promoted back to the Premier League, view Henderson's potential signing as a major statement, bringing leadership and Premier League experience to strengthen their squad, especially after losing key players like Jobe Bellingham. Henderson's return would mark a full-circle moment, as he began his professional career at Sunderland before moving to Liverpool, where he achieved significant success including Premier League and Champions League titles. His motivation includes regular playing time to secure a spot in England's squad for the 2026 World Cup under coach Thomas Tuchel. Multiple sources note that while other Premier League and European clubs have shown interest, Sunderland remains the most likely destination for the midfielder's Premier League comeback.