Jordan Henderson has revealed the key factors behind his surprising move to Chelsea, with the 36-year-old England midfielder signing a two-year deal with the Blues on a free transfer from Brentford. The move is one of the most unexpected of the summer transfer window, as Chelsea have also secured Danny Welbeck from Brighton for £5m.
Henderson's Chelsea switch: A project he couldn't turn down
Henderson, who spent just one season at Brentford, was persuaded to join Chelsea by new manager Xabi Alonso and the club's ownership. The former Liverpool captain said the opportunity was too big to ignore, citing the club's stature, the manager's reputation, and the quality of the squad.
'Given the size of the club, the manager, who I have great admiration for, and the quality of the players, this was a huge opportunity I couldn't turn down,' Henderson said. 'I was also so impressed with how much the ownership want Chelsea to be successful and move in the right direction.'
He added: 'For me, it's about giving everything every single day, both on and off the field, to help the players around me and the team as much as possible. I'm very excited to get going.'
A season of highs and lows at Brentford
Henderson's single campaign at Brentford saw him feature in 34 games across all competitions, earning a spot in England's World Cup squad. He came on against Panama in the group stage, becoming the first England player to feature in four World Cups. However, his tournament took an unusual turn when he fell while jumping over an advertising hoarding after the last-16 win over Mexico, requiring surgery on a forearm injury despite being an unused substitute.
Welbeck also joins the Blues
Danny Welbeck, 35, also expressed his delight at joining Chelsea, saying the club's history and ambition were major draws. 'When you hear of the interest from Chelsea, it's something that fills you with such immense pride,' Welbeck said. 'Knowing the history of Chelsea, it's a club that wants to win trophies and is pushing to do that every single season.'
He added: 'I'm really honoured to come to a club of this stature at what feels like a really exciting time. I know a few of the boys already, and I've had fantastic conversations with the manager and already feel that connection. I've got that fire in my belly, and I'm ready to give it everything for this club to make everyone at Chelsea, and the supporters, proud.'
Chelsea's summer spending spree
These veteran signings complement Chelsea's expensive additions, including £117m on Morgan Rogers, £52m on Maxence Lacroix, and £43m on Marco Palestra. The mix of youth and experience is part of Xabi Alonso's strategy to bolster the squad for the upcoming season.
What's next for Chelsea
Chelsea continues pre-season with friendlies against Juventus on Wednesday and AC Milan on Saturday. Alonso will take charge of his first Premier League game when Chelsea travel to Fulham on August 24.
