Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has paid an emotional tribute to Jordan Henderson with the midfielder's transfer to Al-Ettifaq being confirmed on Thursday. It was first reported earlier this summer season that Henderson had his head turned by a life-changing supply from Saudi Arabia.

An settlement has lastly been reached between Liverpool and Al-Ettifaq with Henderson bidding farewell this week to the membership he is been at since 2011. It marks the tip of an period for the Liverpool captain who led them to European glory in 2019 earlier than ending the membership's lengthy look forward to a Premier League title a 12 months later.

He's lifted extra trophies than some other captain in Liverpool's illustrious historical past and can go down as one of many membership's most iconic gamers. It's the tip of an period for Klopp as nicely, who bids farewell to the one captain he is recognized at Liverpool.

And the German head coach admits it is a "strange" feeling waving goodbye to the 33-year-old.

"Monday when we arrived back in Liverpool, Hendo was waiting for us to say goodbye properly to the team and to the coaching staff as well, so that was a really nice gesture - a really nice thing to do," Klopp informed Liverpool's official web site. "I know it was a really, really tough decision for Hendo and I was around or with him all the way.

"It's unhappy, completely unusual, as a result of he's the one captain I had right here at Liverpool, however I believe it's thrilling for him as nicely. We will miss him, and not using a shadow of a doubt, that is clear - as a person and as a participant. But, as I mentioned, that is soccer."

Klopp is hopeful that Liverpool's next captain can help lead them as well as Henderson did throughout his time at Anfield. But the German also wants to see Henderson shown more appreciation for his achievements on Merseyside.

"I believe he did not get the correct appreciation or respect he would have deserved over time - from some for certain, however not from all," Klopp added. "Now he leaves, I'd say, not on the best excessive as a result of clearly final season was not improbable, however [he is] leaving on a excessive and I believe that is good.

"In the future when people are looking back then they will realise Jordan Henderson was the skipper of [our] most successful squad until then - I hope we can create another one - and the skipper of the first Premier League title winners and all these kind of things. That's a special career. He should be and will be in the future proud of it."