Jordan Henderson joins Chelsea on two-year deal after Brentford contract terminated

England midfielder Jordan Henderson has joined Chelsea on a two-year deal after his contract with Brentford was mutually terminated.

Henderson, 36, captained Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20 and also won the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup twice, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup in his time at Anfield.

In 2023 he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, before joining Dutch side Ajax in January 2024, and returned to the Premier League with Brentford last summer, making 32 top-flight appearances in 2025-26.

"Given the size of the club, the manager [Xabi Alonso] who I have great admiration for, and the quality of the players, this was a huge opportunity I couldn't turn down," said Henderson.

"For me, it's about giving everything every single day, both on and off the field, to help the players around me and the team as much as possible. I'm very excited to get going."

Henderson came through the ranks at Sunderland and made his Premier League debut for them as a substitute in a 5-0 loss to Chelsea on 1 November, 2008.

He earned the first of his 91 England caps in 2010 and has played in seven major international competitions, including the final of the European Championship in 2021 as the Three Lions lost on penalties to Italy.

This summer he became the first Englishman to feature in four different World Cups when he came on as a late substitute in the 2-0 victory over Panama.

However, that would be his only appearance of the tournament as he then suffered a broken arm in freak circumstances.

He fell awkwardly after attempting to jump over the advertising hoardings at the side of the pitch following the 3-2 last-16 victory over Mexico, a match he had not played in. He had also earlier received a booking during the game for criticising a decision by the officials when warming up.