The former Liverpool captain switched to Ajax, the next is Benzema, and Neymar was abandoned
After only six months in Saudi Arabia, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson chose to leave. Ajax have officially announced that the 33-year-old England midfielder has been signed, with Jordan Henderson agreeing a release agreement with Dammam. It is reported that Henderson's annual salary will be reduced from 8 million when he was in Saudi Arabia to 2 million, and the two sides signed a two-and-a-half-year contract that expires in June 2026.
Henderson left Saudi Arabia because he did not adapt to the hot weather and lifestyle, and in addition to the poor attendance of Saudi Arabian games, it was difficult for Henderson to fully commit, and he was worried that his sluggish performance would affect his participation in Euro 2024. With Steven Gerrard as the coach of Dammam's team, Henderson's negotiation with the club to terminate his contract has been relatively smooth, and Henderson has returned to Europe to sign with Ajax, where he can get more appearances.
Jordan Henderson opened the door for the star to flee Saudi Arabia, and multiple media outlets revealed that Benzema is also very close to leaving Jeddah United. Benzema's performances at Jeddah United this season have not lived up to expectations, as he quarreled with coach Nuno and was then deemed too lazy on the pitch to lead the way as a superstar, with fans booing him. There are rumours that Benzema could play in Major League Soccer, and a return to his parent club Lyon is also an option.
In addition to Benzema, Roberto Firmino also wants to go, the former Liverpool striker is now a regular on the Jeddah National bench, and when he is fit, he can only get playing time in the second half, and he is always unable to contribute to the team. It is reported that Roberto Firmino wants to return to the Premier League, and the 32-year-old Brazilian striker believes he can still shine at some small clubs.
In addition, there is also news from the Middle East that Neymar has been terminated by Riyadh Crescent, but sources familiar with the matter revealed that Neymar is still recovering from injury, so his place in the team is to make room for Lodi, which means that as a foreign player, he will not play again this season, after which he will return to the team. In other words, Neymar was indeed temporarily abandoned by the team, which is related to his injury, the team has been advancing on all fronts this season, and there is no need for Neymar to return to lead the team, so it is better to let the Brazilian recover from his injury more thoroughly.