Xabi Alonso has shared the real reason why Chelsea is now interested in signing Jordan Henderson, surprising many.
Chelsea is surprisingly interested in signing Brentford and England midfielder Jordan Henderson, according to reports. The Athletic says the Blues are working on a free transfer deal for the 36-year-old.
Brentford seems happy to let Henderson go for free, thanks to the good relationship between the player and the club. He still has one year left on the two-year contract he signed last summer.
Henderson, who used to captain Liverpool, was picked for England’s World Cup squad. Manager Thomas Tuchel often highlights his experience and leadership as a big plus for the team. Even after breaking his wrist in England’s tough 3-2 win over Mexico, Henderson was back for the quarter-final against Norway.
After leaving Liverpool in 2023 for Saudi club Al Ettifaq, and a short time with Ajax, Henderson returned to the Premier League with Brentford ahead of the 2025/26 season. He was an important player during the first half of that season. Although his form dipped a bit in early 2026, he still played 32 Premier League games.
Many fans are surprised by Chelsea’s interest, especially given Henderson’s age and questions about what kind of role he could have in a team aiming for Champions League spots this season.
Chelsea is also looking to sign more experienced players this summer, including Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, 35, with new manager Xabi Alonso leading the charge.
Alonso’s interest in Henderson partly comes from comments he made about the midfielder when Henderson was still captain at Liverpool. In 2019, Alonso told Liverpool’s official website that Henderson had “become a figure in the changing room” and was deeply respected by teammates. He said Henderson’s energy was very important for the way the team played.
Three years earlier, Alonso also praised Henderson for successfully taking over as Liverpool captain after Steven Gerrard. He pointed out how adaptable Henderson is, saying, “You need to adapt to your team and teammates, and the opponent as well.” According to Alonso, the more complete a player is, the better they can handle a long season — and Henderson does that really well.
This is likely why Chelsea sees him as a valuable addition for the season ahead.