Chelsea have raised eyebrows in the market by pursuing Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson as Xabi Alonso throws a curveball with his recruitment plans. The Blues have been associated with blockbuster transfers for years, landing Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Morgan Rogers for huge sums. Rogers is their big summer capture, but as Alonso looks to stamp his mark on a squad that finished 10th last season, he has turned to tried and tested Premier League performers nearing the end of their careers.
Veteran Targets
Welbeck, now 35, is enjoying an Indian summer and was an outsider for England's World Cup squad. He has not played for a major side since leaving Arsenal in 2019, but could return via Stamford Bridge. Not long after it emerged Chelsea were working on a deal for Henderson, another veteran at 36. The midfielder spent last year at Brentford after stints in Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, and was part of England's World Cup squad. While such moves have been ridiculed, they have worked in the past.
Examples of Successful Veteran Signings
Chelsea have underdelivered with their youth investment, so they need players who can get the job done. Henderson has lifted the Premier League and Champions League. Here are veteran moves that paid off:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Man Utd: The Swede arrived as a free agent at 34, rejoining Jose Mourinho. He scored on debut and finished with 28 goals, 17 more than his closest teammate, and won the Community Shield and Carabao Cup.
Gary McAllister to Liverpool: Signed at 35 on a free, he helped Liverpool win a treble in 2001. He was Man of the Match in the UEFA Cup final, scored a penalty winner against Barcelona, and netted a famous 44-yard free-kick to win the Merseyside derby.
Esteban Cambiasso to Leicester: At 34, he left Inter for newly promoted Leicester. His first contribution was a goal in a 5-3 comeback win over Man Utd. He was named Player of the Year and helped keep them up, but left before their title win.
Jurgen Klinsmann to Tottenham: Arrived in 1994 at 30, scoring 30 goals in his first spell. He returned at 33 and saved Spurs from relegation with his goals.
Claude Makelele to Chelsea: Signed at 30 from Real Madrid, he was so influential that a role was named after him. He helped Chelsea win two Premier League titles under Mourinho.
