Sunderland make new Jordan Henderson announcement
Jordan Henderson is the talk of Sunderland right now amid doubts over his immediate Ajax future.
The midfielder came through the ranks at the Stadium of Light before securing a landmark move to Liverpool in 2011, winning it all at Anfield.
Henderson was at Wembley Stadium to watch Sunderland win the play-off final by defeating Sheffield United 2-1, celebrating with some of the squad.
The England international has already been linked with a return to Wearside, and now the Black Cats have made an announcement on the 35-year-old.
Sunderland tease supporters with new Henderson message
Henderson is unlikely to be an Ajax player much longer after recent reports surrounding his future in Amsterdam.
Ajax are reportedly willing to let Henderson leave on a free transfer this summer, even though he has a year left on his current deal.
That is because Johnny Heitinga does not consider the former Liverpool man part of his plans and wants him off the wage bill.
The central-midfielder made 28 league appearances for the legendary Dutch club as they let slip a nine-point lead at the top of the league.
| Jordan Henderson’s 2024/25 Eredivisie statistics | Total |
| Appearances | 28 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Touches | 69.2 |
| Big chances created | 8 |
| Accurate passes | 51.7 (87%) |
Thomas Tuchel surprisingly recalled Henderson to the England set-up when most thought his international days were over.
Inevitably, the former Al-Ettifaq man was a scapegoat for the poor Three Lions performances, along with Kyle Walker.
Tuesday marks his 35th birthday, and Sunderland wished Henderson a happy birthday on their X account (17 June).
While this is just a happy birthday message, it is likely to add fuel to the Wearside transfer links.
Should the Black Cats re-sign Henderson for Premier League return?
From the outside, it would be easy to assume that Sunderland would take Henderson back, but it is not that simple.
Over recent years, the Wearsiders have adopted a transfer policy based on acquiring young talent and developing them with first-team exposure.
Of course, there have been anomalies to that rule, with the signing of Alan Browne an example.
However, if the Sunderland hierarchy are to break that trend with the signing of Henderson, they will need to be sure.
Dan Neil has been a consistent performer for some time, and if he stays in the North East, then he will surely start in central midfield.
While there may be room for Henderson alongside Neil, he would not be a guaranteed starter under Regis Le Bris.
However, the Ajax man does possess a wealth of experience and leadership that can guide Sunderland through the Premier League.
Moving forward, the Wearside club must be certain that a move for Henderson would be a positive step.