July 11, (THEWILL) — Jordan Henderson will complete his return to the English Premier League after agreeing a two-year contract with Brentford, bringing his brief spell at Ajax to an end.
The 35-year-old England international terminated his contract with the Dutch club by mutual agreement and chose the west London side over several European suitors.
Medical examinations and paperwork will be finalised over the weekend, though an official announcement has been delayed until next week following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.
Brentford identified Henderson following confirmation that captain Christian Norgaard would join Arsenal in a £25 million transfer.
The former Liverpool skipper’s leadership qualities and EPL experience made him the primary target for new head coach Keith Andrews, who replaced Thomas Frank after the latter’s move to Tottenham Hotspur in June.
Henderson’s arrival addresses the leadership vacuum created by multiple departures during what has become a transformative summer for the club.
The midfielder spent 12 years at Liverpool, making 492 appearances and captaining the side to League glory in 2019/2020 and UEFA Champions League success in 2018/2019.
He also lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in 2022 before his controversial move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq in 2023.
His stint in the Middle East lasted just six months before Ajax offered him a route back to European football, where he made 32 appearances across all competitions.
Brentford face significant squad changes with Bryan Mbeumo reportedly wanting to join Manchester United and goalkeeper Mark Flekken having already moved to Bayer Leverkusen. Henderson will work alongside Denmark midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard and either Vitaly Janelt or Yehor Yarmoliuk in central areas.
The club has signed three former Liverpool players in the past year, with Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg, and Caoimhin Kelleher all making moves to the Brentford Community Stadium.
Henderson remains determined to earn selection for England’s 2026 World Cup squad under new manager Thomas Tuchel.
After being omitted from several squads during Gareth Southgate’s final months in charge, the midfielder has featured in both of Tuchel’s first two selections, earning his 84th cap in the recent victory over Andorra.
His return to regular EPL football could prove crucial in maintaining his international prospects at the age of 35.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
