Jamie Carragher has voiced strong criticism over Chelsea's decision to sign former Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson on a free transfer, insisting the move makes little sense for the Blues while urging new manager Xabi Alonso to prioritize signing a replacement for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Henderson's Move to Chelsea Questioned
Henderson's switch to Stamford Bridge was confirmed earlier this week after his contract with Brentford was mutually terminated. The 36-year-old midfielder, who captained Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20 and won the Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup during his Anfield career, made a controversial move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in 2023 before returning to the Premier League last season with Brentford.
Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher said: 'It's a great move for Jordan Henderson. But I don't understand it from Chelsea's point of view. I hear people say they need experience but for me they weren't lacking 35-year-olds, they were lacking players who were 27 and 28. The lad from Crystal Palace [Maxence Lacroix] for example seems like a really good signing.'
Carragher: Henderson Can't Play Week In, Week Out
Carragher, who played alongside Henderson at Liverpool, expressed doubts about the midfielder's ability to cope with the demands of the Premier League at his age. 'Jordan Henderson was finding it tough at Liverpool three or four years ago, he wasn't playing regularly and he's had a couple of moves since then. I know what Jordan is like, he's going to want to play. He will not be going there thinking he's a sub. But at 35 how much football has he got? I absolutely love Jordan Henderson and it's a great move for him, but I don't see it for Chelsea. It's like they've gone from one extreme to another, buying really young and then buying old when you need players in the middle. I'm not quite sure Jordan can play week in, week out in the Premier League.'
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has already welcomed ten new signings this summer, including Morgan Rogers, Danny Welbeck, and Maxence Lacroix, alongside Henderson. However, Carragher believes Alonso should sanction at least one more signing to address the goalkeeper position, with Robert Sanchez having made a number of high-profile blunders over the past 12 months.
Carragher: Sanchez 'Not It' for Chelsea
Asked whether Chelsea need a new goalkeeper, Carragher was blunt: 'It's been proven. It's not a debate, is it? No, he's not it. He's not it.'
Despite Carragher's scepticism, former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has endorsed Henderson's arrival. 'Hendo is ultra professional – he does everything at 110 per cent and expects everyone around him to do the same,' Cahill told Chelsea's official website. 'I was always impressed when I was around him in England squads. He is very vocal in the dressing room and once he's on the training pitch, he has that mentality of giving everything in every session and making sure others are giving that too. There's nothing wrong with that, it's exactly what you should be doing. He is someone who drives standards every day. If the standards dip a little in training, he will jump on that and push it back up again. That is so important to have, no matter if it's Hendo, Danny or the other lads in the squad, it's massive having that mentality in the squad.'
Chelsea's Premier League Opener Looms
Chelsea face west London rivals Fulham in their Premier League opener on August 24. The Blues finished 10th in the Premier League last season, failing to qualify for any European competition, and will be eager to improve under Alonso's leadership.
