Jordan Henderson confirms Liverpool move in an emotional social media message

The Reds captain is leaving the club after 12 years at Merseyside

Jordan Henderson has sent a heartfelt farewell message ahead of his move to Saudi club Al Ettifaq, which will end 12 years at Liverpool.

Henderson has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks after interest from the team now managed by Steven Gerrard first surfaced. He left Liverpool’s training camp in Germany after negotiating a fee between the clubs and apparently went through all the procedures to complete the move to the Gulf state.

Footage of the midfielder training with his new team-mates this afternoon has even surfaced today, before any official announcements have been made.

However, Henderson has now taken to Instagram to bring an end to the saga and ultimately his time as a Liverpool player. “I’m not sure I have words to sum up how I’m feeling right now – I’m in the dressing room for the last time, so you can imagine it’s very emotional,” began the 33-year-old. “But I have to go some way to trying to explain what the last 12 years have meant to me and my family.

“I still remember that evening in June 2011 when I was extremely excited but then even more nervous when the move from Sunderland became a reality.

“It was difficult to leave there – my hometown, my club – but when Liverpool come knocking, you don’t say no.

“Driving through those old Melwood gates, meeting Damien [Comolli], my stomach is turning, a little embarrassed to meet Sir Kenny [Dalglish], it all feels like yesterday. I was just a child when I saw the footage at the time – who could have imagined that evening how the next 12 years would unfold?

“I can’t lie, there were tough times. Really tough times. But looking back on my career at Liverpool, those will always be the good times that I will remember.”

“The good times – where to start again? “Being captain of Liverpool Football Club has been one of the greatest honors of my life. From the day I was handed the armband, I did everything I could to act as a Liverpool captain. But the greatest honor to Liverpool has been.” It wasn’t personal, it was collective. All of us, all together.

“Starts in Madrid with number six, the most perfect evening. Probably my favorite evening actually. You saw, I’m sure, the emotion – it was impossible not to be excited. When we got home there were no words for that experience. You were everywhere, literally everywhere. On trees, windows, roofs, cars, lampposts and even scaffolding.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming us so well. Not once, but to do it again even after losing the Champions League final says a lot about the club and its fans. They are the best in the world. – There is no doubt, there is no doubt.

“Then when we brought home number 19, we as players knew what it meant for you to end that wait. We knew how important it was to make champions of the game again. Liverpool.” “That brings me to Anfield, the most special place in the world to play football, what else could you think of?

“I’m sad not to have the chance to play at a bigger Anfield but I know the impact it will have on the opposition.”

Henderson finally concluded his short but sweet note to the club’s supporters with a series of thanks.

“I think what I really want to say to you is just thank you. Thank you for letting me be a part of your club. Thank you for your support through good times and bad. We thank you for all the sacrifices and commitments and will continue to follow us around the world.

“All I know is that I will always be red until I die. Thank you for everything, you will never walk alone. Jordan.”