Jordan Henderson insisted that he still wanted to be playing regularly when he left Liverpool three years ago, yet his proposed move to Chelsea would appear to go against his ideals
06:00, 29 Jul 2026
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Jordan Henderson #14 of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Jordan Henderson could be set for a surprise move to Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
Jordan Henderson could be set for perhaps the strangest and most unexpected turn in a career that has already seen some odd developments since his departure from Liverpool.
The midfielder’s sudden departure from Anfield in 2023 wasn’t well received for a number of reasons. The very questionable moral decision to move to Saudi Arabia, a country where homosexuality is illegal and same-sex couples face severe discrimination, after years of campaigning for the LGBT community left more than a bitter taste.
But it was also the manner in which Henderson departed which left supporters disappointed. The captain of the club, who had become the first player to lift a league title in 30 years, leaving without saying a proper goodbye in front of the fans just didn’t feel right.
Even more so when you consider that he had been so determined to fight for his place when faced with the prospect of being sold under Brendan Rodgers. With a midfield revamp in action under Jurgen Klopp though, that same fight seemed to be missing.
"I’m at the latter stage of my career and I want to be happy playing football,” he said shortly after his exit from Anfield.
“I want to play. I don’t want to be sitting on the bench and coming on for 10 minutes in games.”
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson insisted he still wanted to play regularly after leaving Liverpool(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Taken at face value, you can certainly understand the sentiment behind Henderson’s comments there. Moving to Saudi Arabia, for all its ethical issues, gave him a guarantee of games - it was after all, a huge step down in terms of quality.
That gulf in class proved too much for Henderson though, and just a few months later, he was back in Europe, having made the surprise move to the Netherlands with Ajax. After 18 months in Amsterdam, he was back in England, joining Brentford.
All in all, both of those moves made sense. Ajax is still a big name in European football, albeit in a less competitive setting than the Premier League where he could still make an impact. The same as at Brentford, a steady mid-table side where he could impart his experience while still playing plenty of games.
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It felt like Henderson was progressing to a pretty natural stage before he could hang up his boots and retire, with any bad blood with Liverpool fans having seemingly been forgotten after receiving a rousing reception back on Merseyside earlier this year.
Yet, now he could be lined up for a move that not only risks souring that relationship with his former club again, but also goes against his supposed reasons for leaving Liverpool in the first place.
Chelsea’s interest in Henderson is odd to say the least, given it’s made a habit of overloading its squad with young players over the last couple of years. Clearly Xabi Alonso’s side could do with some more experience, but a 36-year-old Henderson and a 35-year-old Danny Welbeck feels like it’s overdoing it.
Jordan Henderson of Brentford applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford
Chelsea would be an odd move for the former Liverpool captain(Image: (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images))
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For a team that wants to be challenging for trophies and qualifying for the Champions League, signing a player like Henderson feels like a strange step. Realistically, you wouldn’t expect him to be playing regularly, which is what he insisted he wanted when left Liverpool.
And after a summer in which he seemed to be acting as something of a cheerleader for England at the World Cup - admittedly not his fault as he can’t be expected to turn down the call-up - Henderson’s career seems to going down a strange path where he’s becoming exactly what he said he wanted to avoid - a bit-part player.
Perhaps he sees Chelsea as one last opportunity to finish his career on a high, but you can’t imagine he’d be doing so as a mainstay in Alonso’s strongest side. Ultimately, it’s his choice what he does, but it does paint his motives for leaving Liverpool in a different light.