Ajax is reportedly considering naming Jordan Henderson as the club’s new captain despite his recent arrival and limited appearances for the team. The English midfielder joined the Dutch giants last month after parting ways with Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
According to The Athletic, Henderson faced challenges settling in Saudi Arabia and departed from Al Ettifaq amid a lengthy winless streak. Since joining Ajax, the 33-year-old has made a positive impression on his teammates despite the team’s mixed results in his initial outings.
As the most experienced player in a squad brimming with young talent, Henderson is expected to provide leadership and mentorship at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Although initially slated to captain the team in a recent match against Heerenveen, it was confirmed that Steven Berghuis would assume the role temporarily in Steven Bergwijn’s absence due to injury.
Nevertheless, Ajax is reportedly considering Henderson for the captaincy in the long term due to his positive impact on the team’s dynamics. In an interview with ESPN following his debut, Henderson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent Ajax and praised the club’s atmosphere.
While some social media users have criticized the reported captaincy plan, Henderson’s potential appointment as skipper wouldn’t be surprising given his successful tenure as captain at Liverpool. Additionally, Ajax’s challenging start to the Eredivisie season has underscored the importance of Henderson’s experience to the club’s hierarchy.
However, Henderson’s primary focus remains on helping Ajax secure a third-place finish in the Eredivisie, which would secure qualification for the Champions League. With Ajax currently trailing third-placed Twente by nine points with 13 games remaining, Henderson’s leadership could prove crucial in achieving this objective.
