- Jordan Henderson was made Ajax’s new captain at the start of the season
- He has reportedly agreed to join Monaco and was not skipper on Thursday
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Jordan Henderson was not named captain for Ajax on Thursday night after agreeing a deal to join Monaco until the end of the season.
Henderson was installed as Ajax’s skipper at the start of the season but was not wearing the armband for their Europa League fixture against Galatasaray.
It is not known if his leadership was revoked due to the transfer dealings or another reason.
The former Liverpool captain has made 32 appearances in all competitions this season for Francesco Farioli’s Eredivisie title-chasers.
He arrived in the Netherlands from Al-Ettifaq a year ago and helped them through one of the most disastrous seasons in their memory.
Ajax scraped their way to fifth last season but have been rejuvenated under the manager-captain combination of Farioli and Henderson.
Jordan Henderson appeared to have his captaincy removed by Ajax against Galatasaray
He was made skipper of the Dutch giants by Francesco Farioli at the start of the season
However, a permanent move is close to being agreed between the two clubs.
However, a report from Dutch publication claimed that Ajax have informed Monaco that a move will not go ahead this month with Henderson viewed as vital in the club’s bid to secure Champions League football.
Ajax weren’t far from winning the competition in 2018=19 when they ran all the way to the semi-finals, but Tottenham and Lucas Moura had other ideas.
After spending 12 glittering years at Anfield, Henderson departed the Merseyside club in the summer of 2023 in an ill-fated move to Al-Ettifaq of the burgeoning Saudi Pro League.
His time in the gulf state would ultimately prove to be short-lived, and Henderson made just 19 appearances before his lucrative contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
The move also proved to be disastrous for Henderson’s international career.
After featuring regularly for England during the 2022 World Cup and in the final months of his time at Liverpool, Henderson has made just four appearances since departing the Premier League.
The 34-year-old’s last international cap came during a Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta in November of 2023.
Monaco currently sit third in Ligue 1, 13 points behind runaway leaders PSG.
After losing to Inter Milan on Wednesday, the club narrowly missed out on knockout phase seeded playoffs in the revamped Champions League league phase, finishing 17th.
Should the deal be completed Henderson would become Monaco boss Adi Hutter’s second January signing, after former Arsenal youngster Mika Biereth.
