Jordan Henderson confirms Liverpool exit after 12 years as Reds captain kicks off new £700k-a-week career at Al-Ettifaq

JORDAN HENDERSON has announced his departure from Liverpool after 12 years.

The midfielder took to social media to give an emotional goodbye to the club and its supporters.

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Jordan Henderson has confirmed his departure from Liverpool[/caption]

twitter @BrSaudita

He has already been spotted training with Saudi outfit Al-Ettifaq[/caption]

Henderson, 33, is expected to become the latest star from Europe to make the move to Saudi Arabia.

He has already been seen training with Steven Gerrard‘s Al-Ettifaq with a deal worth £700k-a-week on the cards.

And it appears the move is close to completion as the Liverpool captain took said his goodbye.

On an Instagram post, he wrote: “It’s hard to put these last 12 years into words and it’s even harder to say goodbye. I will always be a Red. Until the day I die.

“Thank you for everything. You’ll never walk alone.”

The words were accompanied by a video showing Henderson’s greatest moments at the club including the Premier League and Champions League triumph.

In the video, he said: “I am not sure I have any words to sum up how I am feeling right now.

“I am in the dressing room for the last time and as you can imagine it is very emotional.

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“I need to somehow explain what these last 12 years have felt for me and my family. I can still remember that night in June 2011 clearly.

“I was excited and then nervous as the move from Sunderland became reality.

“It was hard leaving there, I have to be honest. My home town, my club, but when Liverpool comes calling you don’t say no.

“Driving through those old Melwood gates, meeting Damien, the spinning feeling in my stomach, meeting Sir Kenny, it feels like yesterday.

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Henderson will link up with former team-mate Steven Gerrard[/caption]

“Looking back at that footage, I am just a kid. Who would imagine looking back at that night how the next 12 years would go.

“I can’t lie. There have been really hard times but when I look back at my career at Liverpool, it will always be the good times that I remember.

“Being the captain has been one of the greatest honours of my life.”

Henderson has met up with his new team-mates at their training camp in Croatia.

Footage from training shows Henderson has already taken part in a session with Al-Ettifaq.

He could make his debut in a friendly against North Macedonia’s Rabotnicki on Thursday.

Henderson has reportedly agreed a three-year deal with the Saudi Pro League side, through to the summer of 2026.

The contract will reportedly see him earn four-times his Liverpool salary.

Henderson Joined Liverpool having signed from Sunderland in 2011.

During his time on Merseyside, Henderson made 492 appearances for Liverpool and won eight trophies.

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