Chelsea have completed a deal to sign England international Jordan Henderson. The former Liverpool captain, 36, has signed a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge after leaving Brentford.
Henderson leaves Brentford for free
Henderson still had another year left on his contract with the Bees but was allowed to leave for nothing. The addition of the former Liverpool star is intended to add more experience to a young Chelsea squad under Xabi Alonso, with ex-Manchester United and Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck, 35, also arriving on Saturday.
The veteran duo have been joined at Chelsea this summer by the more youthful trio of Morgan Rogers (24), Marco Palestra (21) and Valentin Barco (22).
Henderson's gratitude to Brentford
Speaking after leaving Brentford, Henderson said: “I leave Brentford with a lot of gratitude for the opportunity the club gave me, and for the support and care shown to me and my family from day one. Coming back to the Premier League was really important to me, and Brentford gave me that chance. I’ll always be thankful for that.
“I hope I was able to play my part in helping the team through an important period for the club. We achieved a lot together last season, and it’s something everyone involved should be proud of.
“Brentford is a special football club. It’s ambitious, progressive and full of good people. From the owners and leadership, to the coaching staff, the players and everyone behind the scenes, it’s been a privilege to be part of it.
“Most of all, I’d like to thank the supporters. Their backing never changed, and the connection they have with the club is clear to see. They care deeply about Brentford and they support the team in the right way every step of the journey.
“Finally, thank you to Matt, Phil, Lee and Keith, every member of staff, and all my team-mates. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside you, and I’ll look back on my time at Brentford with a lot of pride and some great memories.”
Career journey
Henderson started his career with boyhood club Sunderland and moved to Liverpool in 2011. The midfielder made 492 appearances on Merseyside, helping the club to the Premier League and three Champions League finals, as well as a whole host of other trophies as captain.
He quit Anfield in 2023 in a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq but he was soon on the move once again with subsequent switches to Ajax and Brentford. His form last season was good enough to secure a spot in England’s squad for the World Cup.
The 93-capped midfielder made just one appearance at the tournament with a six-minute cameo against Panama in the Three Lions’ final group game. He suffered a horrendous arm injury after falling from the advertising hoardings around the pitch.
