It came out of the blue earlier this week that Chelsea are closing in on the signings of both Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, as BlueCo look to add experience to Xabi Alonso’s squad.
Having spent their entire four-year tenure at Chelsea attempting to bring in the world’s youngest talent, BlueCo have finally realised their mistake and performed a full U-turn, with Henderson and Welbeck.
Fabrizio Romano reports this morning that Welbeck has agreed personal terms, and a medical has been booked for the Brighton striker. He could join Chelsea’s squad during their pre-season tour in Hong Kong.
Who was the BEST and WORST performer in Xabi Alonso’s first televised game as Chelsea boss?👀
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Henderson is slightly further away, though the former Liverpool captain has also agreed personal terms with Chelsea, according to Nicolo Schira. Both are set to sign two-year contracts at Stamford Bridge.
Welbeck, who is 35, and Henderson, now 36, will be BlueCo’s oldest signings. Welbeck could well hold the record for a few days before Henderson signs. But where do they rank in the club’s entire history?
READ MORE:John Terry has already explained why Chelsea are signing Jordan Henderson
Danny Welbeck would go straight in at sixth in the top 10
At 35 years and eight months, Welbeck – who scored 13 Premier League goals for Brighton last season – would become Chelsea’s sixth-oldest signing of all time. He’d be just behind Willy Caballero in fifth.
Brighton's Danny Welbeck (right) in discussion with Brentford's Jordan Henderson
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The latter was signed at age 35 years and 9 months in the summer of 2017. Henderson would be a lot higher on the list, given that the former Sunderland, Al Ettifaq and Ajax star turned 36 last month.
Henderson would become Chelsea’s fourth-oldest signing in the club’s history behind Didier Drogba by a matter of three months, following Drogba’s return to Stamford Bridge on loan from Galatasaray.
As things stand, Rob Green sits in second after his move to Chelsea aged 38, while Mark Schwarzer is still the oldest player signed by Chelsea at a whopping 40. Below is Chelsea’s current top 10 oldest signings.
Rank Player Signed From Age Transfer Window
1 Mark Schwarzer Fulham 40 years, 9 months Summer 2013
2 Rob Green Huddersfield Town 38 years, 6 months Summer 2018
3 Didier Drogba (2nd spell) Galatasaray 36 years, 4 months Summer 2014
4 Thiago Silva Paris Saint-Germain 35 years, 11 months Summer 2020
5 Willy Caballero Manchester City 35 years, 9 months Summer 2017
6 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Barcelona 33 years, 2 months Summer 2022
7 Mineiro Free Agent (Hertha BSC) 33 years, 1 month September 2008
8 Ruud Gullit Sampdoria 32 years, 8 months Summer 1995
9 Samuel Eto’o Anzhi Makhachkala 32 years, 5 months Summer 2013
10 Gianluca Vialli Juventus 31 years, 10 months Summer 1996
Welbeck would go in above Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Henderson is a couple of months older than Thiago Silva. The latter is still the eldest outfield player to play for Chelsea, at 39 and seven months.
The players under threat if Welbeck and Henderson arrive
Experience is important at Chelsea. But what is perhaps impressive, in the players BlueCo and Alonso have chosen, is that both players had excellent 25-26 seasons. Brentford and Brighton finished above Chelsea.
But where there are signings, there are often exits. Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and even Nicolas Jackson will be considering their futures, with Welbeck set to come in as second-choice striker.
First Danny Welbeck and now Jordan Henderson! What is going on at Chelsea?
Chelsea want to sign Jordan Henderson graphic
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Jackson is being linked with Villa and a reunion with Unai Emery, while Emegha could be sold without even making his debut. Delap failed to show why he deserved to remain at Chelsea against WSW.
In midfield, Andrey Santos’ departure leaves a void for Henderson to fill. But Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia may have to consider leaving Stamford Bridge if they want to play without European football.
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