Jordan Henderson is set to return to the Premier League after agreeing to join Brentford on a free transfer.
The former Liverpool captain, now 35, has decided to leave Ajax after spending 18 months in the Dutch league. He turned down the option to extend his stay in Amsterdam and is now expected to sign a two-year deal with Brentford, bringing him back to English football for the first time since 2023.
Henderson made the switch to Ajax in January 2024 after a short and difficult spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq. He left the Saudi club by mutual agreement just six months into a three-year contract.
At Ajax, Jordan Henderson made an impact with his leadership on and off the pitch, helping the club finish second in the Eredivisie last season. However, Ajax lost grip on the title after leading the table for much of the campaign.
Technical director Alex Kroes praised Henderson’s influence, saying: “Jordan was a true captain for us, both on and off the pitch. He made a significant contribution to our qualification for the Champions League and helped shape the culture of the team.”
Henderson added in his farewell message: “To play for Ajax was an honour in itself. To captain the team made it even more special. My only regret is that we didn’t win more for the amazing supporters.”
He continued: “Right now, because of the heartbreaking news about my former teammate Diogo Jota and his brother André, it doesn’t feel right to say too much. I’ll thank everyone at Ajax properly when the time feels right.”
Henderson laid flowers at Anfield last week in memory of Jota and later joined other former Liverpool teammates in Portugal for the funeral. Reports say Brentford have decided to delay the official announcement of his signing out of respect for the tragedy.
According to The Athletic and The Times, Henderson is undergoing a medical on Friday and will sign a contract that runs until 2027. He reportedly turned down offers from Monaco and Porto, with a return to England being his top priority.
Brentford’s new signing will fill the gap left by Christian Norgaard, who completed a move to Arsenal this week. Henderson will also reunite with some familiar faces at the club, including goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who joined earlier this summer, and Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho.
This move marks Henderson’s third club since leaving Liverpool in 2023, following a midfield rebuild at Anfield that saw the arrivals of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Endo.
