Jordan Henderson is receiving backlash from Liverpool fans as he looks set to join Premier League rival Chelsea, and it's not the first time he has got on the wrong side of Reds supporters
08:52, 28 Jul 2026
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Jordan Henderson #14 of England applauds the fans after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Final between France and England at Miami Stadium on July 18, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Jordan Henderson looks set for a surprise move to Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
Jordan Henderson has left Liverpool fans shocked - and not for the first time - as he lines up a move to Chelsea this summer.
According to reports, the Reds’ former captain is being eyed up for a surprise move to Stamford Bridge. The Blues are said to be the leading contenders to sign the 36-year-old, with a number of Premier League sides interested.
Henderson’s current club Brentford is apparently ready to grant him a free transfer despite him still having a year left on his contract. But while his relationship with the Bees is said to be amicable, he looks to be souring his bond with Liverpool’s supporters.
Many Reds fans have reacted angrily to the prospect of Henderson joining what is considered one of Liverpool’s direct rivals, arguing that his long spell as captain at Anfield shouldn’t lead to him playing for a club like Chelsea.
It’s not the first time Liverpool fans have taken issue with Henderson’s transfer choices though. Back in 2023, with the Reds overhauling their midfield after a poor campaign, the England international decided to leave the club and join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
The move sparked backlash from supporters on Merseyside and further afield, given Henderson’s previous campaigning for the LGBT community, leading him to reveal that he left Liverpool after not feeling wanted by the club.
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson insisted he didn't feel wanted by Liverpool after his exit from the club(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
"There were a few things that sent alarm bells ringing," Henderson told The Athletic shortly after the move to Saudi Arabia. "I’ve got a very good relationship with Jurgen [Klopp]. He was very honest with me.
"I won’t go into detail about the conversation because it’s private, but it put me in a position where I knew that I wasn’t going to be playing as much. I knew there were going to be new players coming in my position.
"And if I’m not playing, as anybody will know, especially the manager, that can be quite difficult for me and especially when I’ve been at a club for so long, I’ve captained the team for so long. Especially when England’s a big thing for me. You’ve got the Euros coming up. And then there was an approach from Al-Ettifaq to the club to see if it would be possible for me to go there.
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"The reaction from the club again wasn’t to say no. At that moment I felt as though my value or the want for me to stay, with the manager and within the club, maybe it had shifted. I knew that time would come at some point. I didn’t think it would be now. And I had to accept that.
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"If one of those people said to me, 'now we want you to stay', then we wouldn’t be having this conversation. And I have to then think about what’s next for me in my career. Now, that’s not to say that they forced me out of the club or they were saying they wanted me to leave but at no point did I feel wanted by the club or anyone to stay.”
Henderson’s spell in the Middle East didn’t last long as he was on the move again after just a few months, joining Ajax in January 2024. He would go on to spend 18 months with the Dutch club before moving back to the Premier League with Brentford last summer.
Henderson was given a rousing reception by Liverpool fans earlier this summer as he made his first appearance back at Anfield in May, although it seems he may have already turned a lot of those same supporters against him now.