Yahoo Sport 
Jordan Henderson transfer request left Ettifaq bosses shell-shocked as Gini Wijnaldum in disbelief
Al Ettifaq bosses have conceded they were left shell-shocked when former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson made it clear to them he wanted to leave the club after just half-a-season. The England international left the Reds in controversial circumstances in the summer of 2023 to move to the Saudi Pro League in a £12m deal.
Reunited with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, his predecessor as Reds captain immediately handed the 34-year-old the armband at the Saudi outfit.
However, Henderson ripped up his contract after just 19 appearances as he looked to return to Europe after just six months. He would go on to join Ajax on a free transfer.
READ MORE: 'We're ready to invest' - Liverpool owners FSG make bold statement as huge move planned
Hatim Al-Misehal, the head of the football committee at Ettifaq, has now admitted he was well aware that Henderson was unhappy at the club.
However, speaking on the new Netflix documentary, Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’, he admitted it was still a major shock when Henderson insisted he wanted to leave.
“Even though we knew he wasn’t happy it was still a shock when he told us he wanted to leave,” he said. “We had some difficulties at the beginning, including with the infrastructure.
“We paid the price for it with the difficulties the team went through at the start of the season.
“The development under Gerrard is clear. The club, thanks to God, is at least in a better place than it was last season.”
The inferior facilities at Ettifaq proved to be one of the reasons why Henderson was unhappy at the club. And former Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum has admitted they were a big shock when he made his own move to the Saudi Pro League club.
“The facilities are an important part of being a top football player,” he said. “It was a big shock for me when I came. It was something that had to change quick.”
