After departing Liverpool in the summer of 2023, Jordan Henderson has continued to attract attention with his career choices.
The former Reds captain accepted a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq after Jurgen Klopp informed him that his playing time at Liverpool would be limited for the 2023/24 season.
While the financial benefits were significant, Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia may not have been the best decision.
After only 17 appearances for Al-Ettifaq, he made the surprising choice to leave and join Ajax in the Eredivisie, a transfer that reportedly cost him millions.
Although the move to Ajax seemed more suitable for the England international, his stay there might be brief as well.
According to Football Insider, Henderson is considering a return to his boyhood club, Sunderland, during the January transfer window.
Sunderland, currently competing in the Championship, have started their season well, sitting at the top of the table with 19 points from nine games as they head into the international break.
A return to Sunderland would not only be a homecoming for Henderson but also a significant boost for the club.
Having been out of the Premier League since the 2016/17 season, Sunderland could benefit from Henderson’s experience and leadership in their quest for promotion.
While one player alone cannot guarantee promotion, Henderson’s arrival would undoubtedly strengthen Sunderland’s squad and provide crucial leadership for the challenging Championship campaign ahead.
On a personal level, Henderson’s return to England would reunite him with familiar faces such as Nat Phillips, currently on loan at Derby County, and Ben Doak, now with Middlesbrough—both of whom have connections to Liverpool, where Henderson spent over a decade.
If Henderson does return to Sunderland and helps secure promotion, he could find himself back in the Premier League, possibly even playing in front of Anfield fans sooner than expected.
This move would not only mark a new phase in his career but also bring him closer to home and the supporters who have been with him since his early Sunderland days.
