Chelsea have officially announced the signing of English midfielder Jordan Henderson on a free transfer. The 36-year-old has joined the Blues after parting ways with Brentford by mutual consent and has agreed to a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge. The club, led by Xabi Alonso, had been seeking to add experienced players to their squad this summer and have now secured the signings of Henderson and 35-year-old Danny Welbeck. Henderson expressed his excitement about joining the club, citing the size of the club, the quality of the players, and the manager as key factors in his decision.
He also praised the ownership's commitment to the team's success. The signing marks a shift in Chelsea's transfer strategy, as they have not featured a player over 30 in two years and had not paid for one in four. Alonso's experience and success at Bayer Leverkusen, where he transformed the team into double winners, are believed to be driving this new approach.
The club's decision to sign veterans is seen as a reaction to concerns over a lack of leadership in the dressing room. Meanwhile, Chelsea have agreed to sell Trevoh Chalobah to Como in a deal worth an initial £25.7m plus potential add-ons.