Henderson breaks impressive Ajax record before kicking a ball for his new club
Jordan Henderson has yet to kick a ball for Ajax, but the England international has already broken the record for most shirts sold in a player's first week at the club.
Henderson completed a move to Ajax just a few months after trading Liverpool for Al-Ettifaq. He terminated his contract with the Saudi club before signing a deal with the Dutch big-hitters until the end of the 2025-26 season.
The 33-year-old could make his debut against RKC Waalwijk on Sunday, though his new employers will have to run the rule on his fitness. Henderson last played a competitive game on December 28, captaining Ettifaq in a Saudi Pro League draw with Al-Hazem, and left his old club's warm-weather training camp to move to Amsterdam.
He has been given a warm reception by the club and a number of its supporters, many of whom have let their wallet do the talking. A number of Ajax players past and present have seen fans snap up their shirt, but none in the numbers we've seen since Henderson's arrival.
As reported by AjaxLife, Henderson has "easily" beaten the previous tallies of Daley Blind and Dusan Tadic. Blind rejoined Ajax in 2018 after a spell in England with Manchester United, while Tadic - signed from Southampton in the same summer - starred in the run to the Champions League semi-finals in his first season and went on to be named club captain.
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The club measures shirt sales in a player's first week at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, and it has been claimed that Henderson surpassed the former stars' weekly total in just 24 hours. While it is described as an all-time record, Ajax have not published exact numbers, but they have started selling other items of club merchandise with Henderson's number, including mugs and duvet covers.
Henderson wore the number 10 shirt for Al-Ettifaq and 14 in his final Liverpool season, but neither were available at his new club with 10 worn by Chupa Akpom and 14 retired in honour of club legend Cruijff. Instead, he will wear the number six shirt vacated when Davy Klaassen left for Internazionale over the summer.
How will Jordan Henderson get on at Ajax? Have your say in the comments section
Jordan Henderson will wear the number six shirt for Ajax (PA)Speaking after his move to Ajax was confirmed, Henderson apologised for any offence caused by his move to Saudi Arabia. The switch prompted widespread criticism from the LGBT+ community for moving to a country which has laws against same-sex sexual activity.
"If anyone was offended or feel as though I upset them, that's on me, that was my decision and I apologise for that," he said. "It was never my intention.
"I just want to look forward now and concentrate on being the best player I can for Ajax. My beliefs have never changed and never will. Again I can only apologise if people feel let down."
"Looking back at the time, it was a big decision and one I felt was right for me," Henderson added. "Things change quickly in football and I'm happy to make this decision [to come to Ajax] and I felt this opportunity too big to turn down for me.
"In life, if you want to call them regrets or mistakes you can but they're only mistakes if you don't learn from them and I learnt a lot of things about Saudi. I haven't got a bad word to say about anyone.
"I have friends over there I'll speak to forever and there were still positives to come out of it. In the end it didn't turn out the way we both wanted to, but it ended on great terms."
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