Jordan Henderson leaves Brentford as free agent | OneFootball

Jordan Henderson has left Brentford by mutual agreement and is now a free agent.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea are working on a deal for Henderson and are the leading contenders to sign him, with the outlet also reporting they were finalising Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, 35, and had an £8m bid for Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, 33, turned down.

The 36-year-old joined Brentford from Ajax as a free signing last summer. Relations stayed amicable and the club had been prepared to let him go for free despite one year left on his contract. He made 34 appearances in all competitions as Brentford finished ninth in the Premier League.

In a message on the club’s channels, Henderson thanked Brentford for the opportunity and the support shown to his family. He said returning to the Premier League mattered to him and he hoped he contributed during an important spell. He described the club as ambitious and progressive and called it a privilege to be part of.

Chelsea have sold midfielder Andrey Santos to Manchester United this summer in a deal worth up to £50m. Henderson featured once for England at the 2026 World Cup before breaking his left arm after slipping while climbing an advertising hoarding during celebrations of the last-16 win over Mexico at the Azteca, then had surgery and stayed with the squad.

He spent 12 years at Liverpool between 2011 and 2023, captaining the club to the 2019-20 Premier League title, then moved to Al Ettifaq for six months in summer 2023 before joining Ajax and Brentford.

Source: NY Times