Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid a heartfelt tribute to Jordan Henderson after the former Reds captain's exit to Al Ettifaq was confirmed.
Henderson has bid farewell to the Anfield faithful after a hugely successful 12-year stay on Merseyside, during which time he captained Liverpool to eight pieces of silverware under Klopp's tenure.
With Henderson sporting the armband, Liverpool scooped their first-ever Premier League title, as well as Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield honours.
The 33-year-old remained a key performer for Klopp last season, but the additions of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to the midfield ranks this summer meant that frequent starts may have been hard to come by for Henderson next term.
After giving the green light to a staggering £700,000-a-week contract with Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, Henderson confirmed his switch to the Saudi Pro League side on Wednesday night, followed by an official announcement from Liverpool a day later.
"You are a legend. I know people say recently we use that word slightly too often, I can tell you, that it's not in your case."
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 27, 2023
The boss says goodbye to the skipper @JHenderson ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0QgjshRYTn
Tributes poured in for the England international upon confirmation of his switch to the Middle East, and Klopp has also taken the time to laud the "legend" as he embarks on a new chapter in his career.
"Hi skipper. We will miss you, you know that. You will miss us, I know that. But it's life. It's not forever, it's just a goodbye. It's wishing good luck, you wish it to us and we wish it to you, we will follow you, you will follow us," Klopp told Liverpool's media channels.
"I said in the beginning when I arrived here that life should be [something] that we all collect together, and when we are together, we collect stories, and make it our story.
"When you look back now, I think you can't avoid a smile. The longest-serving skipper for me, I always had long-serving skippers - [Sebastian] Kehl, seven years, [Dimo] Wache, seven years and three months, you are seven years and eight or nine months so you won that race as well!
"I will miss the talks we have, not always easy talks but I wish you the best of luck for this journey. If nobody told you yet I will tell you know, you are a legend.
© Reuters
"I know people say recently we use that word slightly too often, I can tell you, that's not in your case. All the best skip, I hope you find time to come back so we can say goodbye as a club properly, because that's what you deserve. Thank you for everything, see you soon, and don't forget, you'll never walk alone."
Henderson leaves Liverpool having registered a total of 33 goals and 61 assists in 492 matches for the Reds across all competitions since making the move in a £15.4m switch from Sunderland in 2011.
Liverpool are expected to receive around £12m for the sale of the 33-year-old, who becomes the latest midfielder to depart the Reds after James Milner, Naby Keita, Leighton Clarkson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Juventus loanee Arthur.
Fabinho is also expected to complete a £40m switch to Al-Ittihad imminently, and Liverpool are accelerating their efforts to reinforce their midfield further with the capture of Southampton's Romeo Lavia.
The Reds are rumoured to have already failed with a bid close to £40m, but Southampton are braced for an improved offer from Klopp's side.
Ben Knapton
