Chelsea leading race for Jordan Henderson transfer as second surprise deal gets green light
Chelsea have taken a different approach in the transfer market this summer and are targeting experienced players for new boss Xabi Alonso and Jordan Henderson is the latest.
Chelsea want Jordan Henderson (Image: Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Chelsea are working to pull off a stunning free transfer to land Jordan Henderson from Brentford. The Blues are reported to be among a number of Premier League clubs eyeing a deal to sign the Bees midfielder this summer.
Brentford are prepared to allow the 36-year-old to depart for free and continue to enjoy a healthy relationship with Henderson, the Athletic reports. He has a year remaining on his contract.
The news comes after the Blues entered talks for veteran striker Danny Welbeck. The club appear to have a clear ambition to add experience to their squad.
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Henderson made 22 league starts for Brentford in 2025/26 after joining from Ajax and made a further 10 appearances as a substitute. That earned him a place in former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.
The ex-Sunderland and Liverpool ace featured for six minutes in the Three Lions’ third group match against Panama before suffering an injury in England’s celebrations after beating Mexico. Henderson broke his arm while climbing over an advertising board and required surgery, but he remained with the team throughout the tournament.
Earlier in the summer, Chelsea targeted another experienced Premier League midfielder, Granit Xhaka. However, Sunderland were unwilling to consider the sale of their captain.
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Asked about transfers before Chelsea’s pre-season match against Western Sydney Wanderers, Alonso hinted more movement was to come. The Spaniard suggested, however, that his squad could be trimmed down.
“We need to know that probably there will still be some movements,” he said. “We need to be flexible and quick to act.
“The main thing is that we have a clear idea, a clear plan that we have built. Probably it will change until the last day of the market being open.”
“Not too long, not too short, what is the number? I can’t give you that number,” he responded when asked about squad size. “But for sure, we need to have options because you know that we could be unlucky with injuries so we need to prepare for that.
“We can have different circumstances. We need to manage minutes. We have two cups as well, so we need to fight for them as hard as in the Premier League.
“Once we get the right balance in terms of qualities, personalities, maturity moments, hopefully we are looking at that when we start the first Premier League game in August.”
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