Morgan Rogers has told Xabi Alonso exactly why Chelsea need to sign Jordan Henderson

Xabi Alonso will be pleased with Morgan Rogers’ opinion of Jordan Henderson

Morgan Rogers has described Jordan Henderson as the best person he’s met in football as Chelsea look to wrap up a deal for the former Liverpool captain.

Henderson, 36, emerged as a shock target for the Blues on Monday, with The Athletic reporting that the west London club are the leading contenders among several Premier League sides in the race for his signature.

The Brentford midfielder has one year left on his deal but will be granted a free transfer by the Bees, who enjoy a good relationship with the England star. A move to Stamford Bridge would see Henderson become a team-mate of several of his England colleagues, including new signing Rogers.

The 24-year-old only joined Chelsea himself last week in a club record £117million transfer from Aston Villa. Having been an international team-mate of Henderson since 2024, Rogers has struck up a close bond with the Reds legend and gave him the ultimate praise prior to the Three Lions’ run to the World Cup semi-finals earlier this month.

Speaking alongside Jude Bellingham on England’s Lions’ Den, Rogers said of Henderson: “The best guy I’ve ever come across in football. If people did a blind ranking of people they want at the camp beforehand, he’d be in everyone’s top five.

“He’s big for us two as well. We’re both emotional. I was annoyed the chances weren’t coming off and I’ll give him one look in the face, and he’ll let you know. Then, you’re just in a happy mood! That’s just the way he is; he has that persona and that character.”

Bellingham was equally complimentary of Henderson, as he added: “Don’t get us started on Hendo, we could talk about him for hours. He’s so funny, the funniest guy in this camp. He gets everyone laughing, and he gets everyone together.

“If there’s a problem between two people, he’ll bring them together. He’s that kind of person who even the staff will go to him to sort out issues. He’s got no ego when it comes to supporting the team.

“He’s a Premier League and Champions League-winning captain, and he was doing the sets for the finishing. He doesn’t have to do stuff like that; he doesn’t have to be that humble. Every day he’s relentless in training, pushing everyone to be better.”

Alonso’s preference to sign Henderson and Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, 35, suggests he believes his side require veteran leadership, and it’s that specific quality that Henderson ranks above all, according to Bellingham.

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The Real Madrid star continued: “He’s got a line for everything, every situation. If you need cheering up, he’ll have a perfect line. If there’s a bit of banter going around, he’ll say something and have the whole room cracking up.

“He’ll be there to make sure that that person pushes the standard to reach the level that he thinks we should be at. Like Morg said, the best person I’ve ever come across in football and probably the biggest leader as well.”

Henderson was a key player in Brentford’s ninth-place finish last season, having made 32 league appearances with 22 of those starts in his debut campaign.