A short walk from the Johan Cruyff Arena in the south-east of Amsterdam lies the ‘De Toekomst’ training complex.
Owned by Ajax, De Toekomst means ‘The Future’ and with its nine football pitches (and two more to come), it is where the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Edwin Van der Sar, Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and many more illustrious footballing names have all passed through in their careers.
Across the training ground and inside the stadium, the phrase ‘Ajax for the future’ is emblazoned in red and white.
Almost as if there is an official acceptance from the marketing department too that the four-time European Cup winners are just a feeder club.
In the press conference room, there is a picture on the wall of Erik ten Hag’s 2021-22 squad from his final season in charge.
Jordan Henderson is ready to make his debut for Ajax against rivals PSV on Saturday
![Ajax boss John van't Schip (right) revealed Henderson would start the clash against the Eredivisie leaders](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/02/17/80785843-13038985-image-a-21_1706896240586.jpg)
Ajax boss John van’t Schip (right) revealed Henderson would start the clash against the Eredivisie leaders
![Henderson's arrival has caused a commotion with his shirt the fastest-selling Ajax jersey ever](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/02/17/80786251-13038985-image-a-22_1706896330405.jpg)
Henderson’s arrival has caused a commotion with his shirt the fastest-selling Ajax jersey ever
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Premier League players like Antony, Lisandro Martinez, Mohammed Kudus, Jurrien Timber, Ryan Gravenberch, Edson Alvarez and Andre Onana are all in the photograph.
The reality is that promising players come to Ajax, develop and are then offloaded to the riches of the Premier League and that is precisely why the signing of Jordan Henderson on a two-and-half-year deal worth £120K per week has caused such a commotion in these parts.
In the club shop, the number six Henderson shirt is already their fastest-selling jersey of all-time. The media requests haven’t stopped coming in while Ajax’s social media platforms follow his every step. Club staff at the training ground passionately share stories of others telling them where they have seen Henderson from riding bikes with his wife and children in Vondelpark (a local park) to taking boat trips down the famous canals of Amsterdam.
The move for Henderson, 33, may go against the traditions of this footballing institution yet simultaneously, there is an acceptance that this Ajax squad desperately needs experience.
Henderson instantly joined the six-man leadership group in the first-team and is the oldest outfield player and with a Premier League and Champions League winning captain in the side, the hope is that the England midfielder can transform Ajax’s fortunes.
As recently as November, they were rooted to the bottom of the Eredivisie after a horror start.
‘In a terrible season, Henderson brings us hope and joy,’ says Jordy Haak from Ajax Life (the official Ajax Supporters Club). ‘None of us would ever think that a player of such a status and reputation would come to us.’
Henderson – who signed over two weeks ago – will finally make his debut on Saturday against Eredivisie leaders PSV, having missed the first game due to work permit issues, before manager John van ‘t Schip admitted that they weren’t ready to risk Henderson on artificial turf at Heracles last weekend.
![Henderson's arrival goes against Ajax's traditions but his experience is greatly needed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/02/17/80785841-13038985-image-a-24_1706896376583.jpg)
Henderson’s arrival goes against Ajax’s traditions but his experience is greatly needed
![Henderson wasn't risked against Heracles due to their opponent's artificial pitch](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/02/17/80785839-13038985-image-a-23_1706896372919.jpg)
Henderson wasn’t risked against Heracles due to their opponent’s artificial pitch
So a full house of Saturday of over 50 thousand fans will be his first game since 28 December when he played for Al Ettifaq against Al Hazem in front of a crowd of just 5,808 in Dammam on the eastern outpost of Saudi Arabia,
Though according to Van ‘t Schip, Henderson has already had a huge impact off the pitch.
‘You can already feel it in the energy around us. It’s different since Jordan came in,’ Schip tells Mail Sport. ‘That’s important because he helps our players and that impact will only grow and grow and tomorrow (Saturday) is just the start. He’s integrated very well and he loves being here. You can tell from the way he trains and how he’s getting involved in talking to the players and from everything I’ve heard and spoken to him, he’s enjoying life in Amsterdam.’
Despite missing two games which Ajax have won, Henderson has been in the stands for both – specifically asking the manager if he could join the squad for the trip last week to Heracles in Almelo, even though it is a two-hour drive. And earlier this week, he was pictured at an under-21 game in Amsterdam with the manager.
‘He’s very easy-going but also very committed,’ says Van ‘t Schip. ‘He went to the game in Almelo and then to Jong Ajax because he wants to see and learn how Ajax works and feel how things go, In the few days he’s been here, he’s really been invested and great in adapting to everything.’
Such has been the influence that already the former Liverpool captain is involved in discussions about the style of play, with Van ‘t Schip revealing that his coaching team have had regular tactical conversations with Henderson, where both parties have shared thoughts.
Amid all the experience however, the younger playing members of the squad are keenly still awaiting an official initiation from Henderson and the manager admits that the pressure will be on Henderson to deliver both on and off the pitch on Saturday.
‘He’s not done his initiation yet and tomorrow is his debut so I think something should happen, says Van ‘t Schip, who was appointed interim head coach in October.
![Gareth Southgate will be eagerly watching Henderson ahead of this summer's Euro 2024](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/02/17/80785907-13038985-image-a-25_1706896445217.jpg)
Gareth Southgate will be eagerly watching Henderson ahead of this summer’s Euro 2024
![Henderson received many plaudits during his 12-year stint at Liverpool which ended last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/02/17/80785869-13038985-image-a-26_1706896468204.jpg)
Henderson received many plaudits during his 12-year stint at Liverpool which ended last year
![He has some proving to do though following his short-lived spell at Saudi club Al-Ettifaq](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/02/17/80785953-13038985-image-m-28_1706896496047.jpg)
He has some proving to do though following his short-lived spell at Saudi club Al-Ettifaq
The last time Henderson played at the Johan Cruyff Arena, he captained Liverpool to victory in a Champions League clash in October 2022.
Sixteen months on, he will step out for Ajax on the same very ground. Who would have thought?
One thing for sure is that by all accounts, he seems happier here than he was in the Middle East. After terminating his contract at Al Ettifaq, Henderson stressed that it was a football decision and with Euro 2024 on the horizon, the fact is that as much as Ajax need Henderson, Henderson needs them too.
Saturday’s clash against the champions in waiting, who are yet to lose a league game this season, will offer the best indicator yet of where his performance level is and whether he still justifies a place on the plane to Germany.
You would imagine that Gareth Southgate will certainly be watching on and hoping to see the Henderson of Liverpool, rather than the Henderson of Al Ettifaq.
With the most unusual of routes from Liverpool to Amsterdam via Dammam, Henderson’s time for redemption is now.
Source From: Football | Mail Online
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