Jordan Henderson is four games into his Ajax career, and appears from the outside to be enjoying his life in Amsterdam.
The former Liverpool skipper ended a disastrous six-month spell at Al-Ettifaq in January, before signing a two-and-a-year deal with the Dutch giants.
While the standard of football in the Netherlands isn't as high as the Premier League, it is arguably a step above the Saudi Pro League, where Henderson had been playing in front of minuscule crowds.
The 33-year-old has always been a favourite of Gareth Southgate, and the midfielder is now on a mission to ensure that he stays in the England manager's good books ahead of Euro 2024, with alternatives such as James Ward-Prowse, Ross Barkley, and Kobbie Mainoo all impressing in the Premier League this season.
Mentality, @JHenderson 💯#ajautr pic.twitter.com/aaW3NnE8hS
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) March 4, 2024
Jordan Henderson mocked for bizarre celebration
Henderson was involved in his first win in an Ajax shirt on Sunday, as they overcame FC Utrecht 2-0 in the Eredivisie, and after the game, the club's social media team decided to share a clip of Henderson's celebrating during the game.
Fair enough, except that the clip they chose was for a fairly standard one of Henderson closing down the opposition goalkeeper, before knocking his attempted clearance out for a throw-in.
Henderson is then heard shouting "yes, come on!" while fist-pumping and geeing up the crowd, as if he'd just fired in a penalty in a Champions League final shootout.
Naturally enough, people online have been taking the mick, with some calling him an attention-seeker and others describing his actions as "performative."
He’ll probably make the England squad over Mainoo cos he won this throw-in https://t.co/os7O237goy
— Jay Motty (@JayMotty) March 4, 2024
Southgate watching that ‘passion’ so he can explain why he’s starting next to Kalvin Phillips in the Euros! https://t.co/jHt88EtCNc pic.twitter.com/4tUWUQkSTJ
— Adrian Browne (@aswbrowne) March 4, 2024
Jordan Henderson enjoying his football again
At least Henderson seems to be enjoying himself again after coming back from Saudi Arabia, a country in which he vowed to "grow the game" following his move.
After his previous comments in support of the LGBTQ+ community, he was heavily criticised for his move to the country, where homosexuality is criminalised.
Many believed that Henderson had turned his back on his values in exchange for a big pay cheque, and he was called out for this in a disastrous interview with The Athletic back in September.
Whatever his feelings at the time of the move, it didn't take long for Henderson to get fed up of playing in the Saudi Pro League, as his contract was mutually terminated in January before he signed for Ajax on a two-and-a-half year deal.
He has already donned the captain's armband in two of his four appearances, suggesting that the leadership qualities he showed during his time at Liverpool are valued by his new club.
For his part, Henderson seems keen to remind people that his move to Saudi Arabia last summer hasn't affected his any passion for the game.
See Also: Gary Neville Baffled By Reaction To Controversial Ending To Forest-Liverpool
