On the way to a surprising move: Chelsea leads the race for Jordan Henderson
The former Liverpool captain, who won the Premier League and the Champions League with the club, is expected to leave Brentford on a free transfer. According to The Athletic, the Blues are shifting their strategy to prioritize experience.
Chelsea is looking for experience, leadership, and character, and may soon sign a player who knows the big stage of English football well. According to a report by David Ornstein of The Athletic, the London team is the leading candidate to sign Jordan Henderson from Brentford.
The 36-year-old English midfielder is attracting interest from several Premier League teams, but Chelsea is in the best position to complete the deal. Brentford, with whom Henderson has an excellent relationship, is willing to allow him to leave without a transfer fee, even though he has one year left on the contract he signed last summer after arriving as a free agent from Ajax.
Henderson, who grew up at Sunderland and became one of the figures most associated with Liverpool in the modern era, played 12 years at Anfield, was appointed team captain, and won the English championship and the Champions League with them. He made 492 appearances in all competitions for the club before leaving in the summer of 2023 for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq in a move that sparked criticism.
Last season, Henderson played for Brentford and made 22 starts and 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League. In addition, he was included in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the last World Cup, but was injured during the tournament after falling while climbing over an advertising board in a match against Mexico and had to undergo surgery.
The potential move may indicate a change in Chelsea's approach in the transfer market. After years in which the club focused mainly on signing young players with future potential, the current summer is characterized by a search for more experienced players. Alongside Henderson, the team also explored options to sign other veterans, including Danny Welbeck and Granit Xhaka.
According to the report, the potential addition of Henderson to Stamford Bridge is intended primarily to add leadership, experience, and high standards to the dressing room, qualities that have made him one of the most prominent figures in the Premier League over the years.
