Al-Ettifaq’s Jordan Henderson is set for a stunning return to European football after successfully ridding Saudi Arabia of its deep-seated homophobia.

Alongside ‘growing the game’ within just six months, Henderson’s on-field performances were able to inspire Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to overturn Saudi’s long-standing ban on homosexuality. ‘He plays with such beauty, as soon as I saw him play in that all-action one-all draw with Al-Khaleej, I said to my advisors, “We must all follow in his footsteps.” 

Henderson has since been heralded as a ’21st-century icon’ by Sir Elton John, a ‘god amongst gay men’ by Stonewall, and following an online petition which gained more than one million signatures, is now tipped to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

After the announcement of Henderson’s departure, Gay Times editor Lewis Corner issued a statement congratulating the England star for his ‘earth-shaking’ efforts, saying: ‘Before Jordan’s arrival, Saudi wasn’t safe for people like us, our very existence was enough to warrant the death penalty, and now, just six months later, thousands flock to stadiums up and down the country to watch sweaty men play with balls. If that isn’t progress, I don’t know what is.’

Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard also heaped praise on the ex-Liverpool captain, telling reporters, ‘Course, people will say he hasn’t done much on the pitch since he’s been here but, believe me, he’s bent over backwards for the LGBTQ community in this country, bent over backwards, and I know how hard that’s been for him.’