Brentford sign Henderson on two-year deal

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Brentford has finalized the acquisition of former Liverpool captain and England midfielder Jordan Henderson, agreeing to a two-year deal following his recent exit from Ajax.

Henderson, who is 35 years old, dedicated 12 years to Liverpool, securing a variety of honors including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, Community Shield, Super Cup, and Club World Cup.

In July 2023, he transferred to Al-Ettifaq, a Saudi Arabian club under the management of his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard. However, six months later, his contract was terminated, leading him to join Ajax.

Recently, the Dutch team consented to release Henderson from his contract a year earlier than planned.

Under the new guidance of manager Thomas Tuchel, Henderson received a call-up to the England squad in March, marking his return after having not played for the national team since November 2023. He has accumulated 84 caps for England.

He has participated in three World Cups and three European Championships throughout his career.

In recognition of his contributions to football and charity, Henderson was honored with an MBE in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Brentford’s manager, Keith Andrews, stated, "When we learned about Jordan's availability, it was an easy choice."

"He remains incredibly fit and is highly motivated to reach new heights in his career, having accomplished so much already."

Andrews emphasized the necessity of replacing the experience lost due to the departures of Christian Norgaard, Mark Flekken, and Ben Mee.

"Jordan will bring the leadership qualities that have made him one of the most impactful leaders in recent Premier League history," Andrews mentioned. "He has been pivotal in the pursuit of titles and Champions League success at a top football club."

"He will elevate standards and will be an exceptional addition to the team."

What Henderson can contribute to Brentford

Henderson's contract was concluded a year prematurely after Ajax failed to secure the league title on the last day of the previous season. This decision was reportedly influenced partly by the club’s financial struggles, with Henderson being their highest-paid player.

During his 18-month tenure at Ajax, the 35-year-old was involved in some controversies.

On January 30, Henderson participated in a 2-1 victory in the Europa League against Galatasaray but opted not to captain the team or celebrate the goals with his colleagues. The then-manager Francesco Farioli did not address speculation regarding Henderson's rumored transfer to Monaco.

A few days later, following a match against Feyenoord where Ajax won, Henderson was engaged in a heated exchange with Dutch journalist Mike Verweij, who questioned whether the ex-Liverpool captain had pushed for the transfer, which he refuted.

This public disagreement resulted in Henderson starting only nine additional games afterward. Overall, while at Ajax, he started in 30 league matches, playing the full 90 minutes in 20 of them.

At Brentford, Henderson is expected to effectively take on the role vacated by Christian Norgaard, which is a significant responsibility. Since his Premier League debut in 2021, Norgaard has made an impressive 201 interceptions, ranking first in this category, while also being second in recoveries with 844 and third for tackles won with 189.

Since concluding his contentious period in Saudi Arabia to sign with Ajax in January 2024, Henderson may not have participated in as many complete matches as he would have preferred. Nevertheless, his contributions in Amsterdam have been impactful, even within a league that may not carry the same prestige.

Last season, he was responsible for generating the highest number of chances alongside his Ajax teammates in the Eredivisie. Additionally, he led all Ajax midfielders in successful passes and crosses while also achieving the highest totals for tackles and interceptions combined.