Jordan Henderson spent more than a decade at Liverpool and captained the team to several trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020
11:33, 30 Jul 2026
Jordan Henderson has left Brentford
Jordan Henderson has left Brentford(Image: Getty Images)
Ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is on the verge of completing a move to Chelsea after his Brentford contract was terminated.
Henderson, 36, is one of the most popular figures in Liverpool's recent history, but he's likely to anger sections of the Merseyside club's fanbase by joining Chelsea. The two clubs have been fierce rivals in recent decades and will battle for silverware this coming term.
While the Blues are yet to confirm Henderson's transfer to Stamford Bridge, Brentford has announced that the veteran midfielder has been granted a free transfer. The Bees confirmed the news on Wednesday, paving the way for Henderson to join Chelsea.
"Jordan signed for us last summer on a two-year deal," explained Phil Giles, Brentford's director of football. "The plan we agreed at the time was for Jordan to add his experience to the team and help the club achieve a good Premier League finish.
"In return, the club committed to helping Jordan get into the England squad for the World Cup while remaining an elite Premier League midfielder. All of those targets were achieved.
"We also agreed that we would sit down after the World Cup and decide what the targets would be for both the club and Jordan in the second year of the contract.
The former Liverpool captain is set to join Chelsea
The former Liverpool captain is set to join Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
"Following those conversations, it was clear that Jordan’s preference was to try something different in the final years of his playing career. We had always said to him that, should that be the case, we would not stand in his way."
Henderson, who called Brentford "a special club," added: "I leave Brentford with a lot of gratitude for the opportunity the club gave me, and for the support and care shown to me and my family from day one.
"Coming back to the Premier League was really important to me, and Brentford gave me that chance. I’ll always be thankful for that."
While Henderson could still pull out of a move to Chelsea and complete a free transfer to a different club, all the indications suggest he's heading to Stamford Bridge. That will be tough for many Liverpool fans to accept.
Liverpool's preseason star
Elsewhere, Liverpool icon Ian Rush has singled out Lewis Koumas as one of the team's preseason stars. Koumas scored in Liverpool's 4-2 victory against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday before starting Wednesday's 1-0 win against Wrexham in New York.
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The 20-year-old winger is on an upward trajectory after helping Hull achieve promotion to the Premier League last season. At this stage, it's unclear whether he'll be part of Andoni Iraola's first-team squad for the new season or complete another loan move.
Nevertheless, Rush is a fan of Koumas. He said during the launch of Liverpool's new away kit in Brooklyn on Tuesday: "Koumas. He's Welsh, obviously, and I'm Welsh as well. He came on in the second half (against Sunderland), scored the goal, and everything.
"Played for Wales at the end of the season, and he's been really, really good. He's been on loan at Hull City, and now he's come back, and now he's got to prove to the manager that he can play regularly in the first team."