Former Liverpool legendary captain Jordan Henderson officially joins Chelsea on a free transfer..

Chelsea announced on their official website on Tuesday that former Liverpool legendary captain, England international midfielder Jordan Henderson has officially joined the club on a free transfer.

According to Chelsea's official statement, Henderson has signed on a short-term two-year deal with the club which will only run until the summer of 2028.

After completing his transfer procedures, Henderson, who was interviewed by the Chelsea official website for the first time, said: "Considering the size of the club, the manager whom I greatly admire, and the quality of the players, this was an incredible opportunity that I couldn't refuse."

"I also greatly appreciate the owners' desire for Chelsea's success and direction. For me, this means giving my all every day, on and off the pitch, and doing everything I can to help my teammates and the team. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming games."

It's worth mentioning that this will be the first time that Henderson and his former teammate Danny Welbeck will be playing for the same club after many years; the two played together at Sunderland in 2010.

About Jordan Henderson

The 36-year-old Henderson was born on June 17, 1990, in Sunderland, England. He is 1.82 meters tall and primarily plays as a center midfielder, but can also play as a defensive midfielder or right midfielder. A dedicated philanthropist and community servant, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire by the British Royal Family in 2021.

Henderson joined Sunderland's youth academy at the age of eight and completed his Sunderland first-team debut by coming on as a substitute in a Premier League match against Chelsea in November 2008. He was also briefly loaned-out to Coventry City during this spell.

A young prodigy, he was named to the FIFA Young Player of the Year list and was voted Sunderland's Player of the Year by fans once.

On June 11, 2011, Henderson transferred to Liverpool for £20 million.

Henderson, initially dubbed the "new Steven Gerrard" by the media after joining the club, was criticized by fans for his lower goal-scoring efficiency compared to Gerrard, and even former manager Brendan Rodgers initially disapproved of him.

Rodger even publicly suggested a swap deal with former US international Clint Dempsey, which upset Henderson.

Despite this, Henderson persevered, establishing himself as a key player for Liverpool with outstanding performances and leadership.

In June 2015, after Gerrard's departure to the LA Galaxy, Henderson, then vice-captain, was promoted to captain.

Afterwards, like fine wine, Henderson's performances improved with age, gradually transforming him into one of the world's best defensive midfielders.

During his 12-year spell with Liverpool, Henderson led the team to eight trophies, including two Carabao Cups, one Premier League title, one FA Cup, one Community Shield, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.

In July 2023, Henderson joined Al-Ettifaq for £12 million.

At the time, he faced criticism for allegedly sacrificing his advocacy for marginalized groups and LGBTQ+ rights in exchange for more money.

The following January, Henderson terminated his contract with Al-Ettifaq and joined Ajax on a free transfer.

After his contract expired in July 2025, Henderson joined Brentford on a free transfer.

Last season, Henderson made 34 appearances for the Premier League club in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing three assists, and helped the team reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Image source: Internet / Chelsea official website