Chelsea have not signed Jordan Henderson for what he is able to do on the pitch. Instead, he will be a leader in the dressing room, and Thiago Alcantara has already explained why he will improve the Blues next season.
Xabi Alonso is being backed by the ownership in his desire to add experienced heads to the Chelsea first team squad, with Danny Welbeck also expected to join.
With Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia already at the club, minutes are not likely to come easily for the England international at Stamford Bridge.
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Thiago Alcantara knows Jordan Henderson will raise the standards at Chelsea
However, this is not where Henderson’s strengths lie at this stage of his career. Instead, he will be looking to improve a young squad who already have plenty of talent, but no real experience in the upper echelons of English football.
Henderson’s former teammate, Thiago Alcantara, spoke to Rio Ferdinand Meets over the summer about the midfielder, and explained how he doesn’t allow standards around him to drop at any point.
England v Argentina: Semi Final - FIFA World Cup 2026
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He said: “He makes all the players better. If you are going to the national team, it is because your standards are high, and he doesn’t allow any of the players to get below those standards.
“That’s why Bellingham is performing better, that’s why Harry Kane is still at his level, that’s why Anderson now is performing as he is, this kind of player you need in a team.
“I think Jordan is behind everyone [hitting those standards], because he makes his team better. Hendo is ‘I will push you as hard as I can, but without hurting you. Making you better. If you need something, I’m there for you. You will fight with me and I fight for you.'”
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Chelsea really need Jordan Henderson’s presence
Chelsea can certainly be accused of downing tools in the second half of the season. No side ranked lower in a Premier League table for the final few months of the season.
The players began ignoring Liam Rosenior towards the end of his tenure, and this is something Henderson will not allow to happen when he joins up at Stamford Bridge.
Terrible performances away from home at hostile grounds such as Elland Road and The Amex were real blows too, and adding players who have seen it all in the game can only be seen as a positive.
While Chelsea are set to announce the signing of Henderson any day now, he is not set to join the pre-season tour due to the freak injury suffered while celebrating England’s World Cup win over Mexico.
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