Jordan Henderson is on the verge of a sensational return to England, with the former Liverpool captain signing a two-year deal with a Premier League club.
The 35-year-old left Ajax on July 9 after an 18-month stint with the Eredivisie side. Henderson made 57 appearances for Ajax across all competitions, including 37 in the league, scoring one goal. Despite a strong campaign, Ajax narrowly missed out on the league title to PSV Eindhoven on the final day of the season.
The Athletic’s David Orstein has now confirmed Henderson’s return to England’s top flight, with Brentford set to secure the signature of the England international. The Times Paul Joyce corroborated the two-year deal, but added that “a number of clubs in England and Europe” were also interested.
? BREAKING: Jordan Henderson to join Brentford on 2yr deal. 35yo free agent after leaving Ajax – prioritised PL return & #BrentfordFC won race. Medical / paperwork over weekend – announcement next week out of respect to Diogo Jota + family @TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/a5VwPttnDz
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 11, 2025
The Bee’s sold their long-serving captain and midfield anchor Christian Nørgaard to Arsenal earlier this week and this departure, coupled with head coach Thomas Frank’s exit to Tottenham, has ushered in a new era in west London, with Keith Andrews now at the helm.
Brentford view Henderson’s arrival as a major coup, bringing in a seasoned leader with vast experience at the highest level. Henderson will become the club’s sixth signing of the summer, joining the likes of Antoni Milambo, Michael Kayode, Romelle Donovan, and Theo Mawene. He’s also set to reunite with former Liverpool teammate and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who joined the Bees for £18 million earlier this summer.
Henderson’s football journey has been storied. A Sunderland academy graduate, he became a Liverpool legend during a 12-year spell at Anfield, where he lifted the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. He succeeded Steven Gerrard as club captain before leaving for Al-Ettifaq in July 2023 in a controversial move to the Saudi Pro League.
After a short, underwhelming six-month spell in Saudi Arabia under former teammate Steven Gerrard and, now, with his Ajax chapter closed, he has prioritised a return to England partly motivated by a desire to cement his place in the national team for the 2026 World Cup. Though he was excluded by Gareth Southgate throughout 2024, new England manager Thomas Tuchel has recalled Henderson for both of his squads so far, signalling a possible international renaissance for the midfielder.
Henderson is expected to complete his medical and finalise paperwork over the coming days, with an official announcement likely next week out of respect for Diogo Jota and his family following recent tragic news of his and his younger brother passing. The duo shared three seasons together at the Reds after Jota’s arrival from Wolves in 2020 and Henderson was one of many players to visit Anfield to pay his respect this past week.
In his farewell statement from Ajax he explained:
“Due to the tragic events of last week, and the devastating loss of my former team-mate Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, it doesn’t feel right at this moment to say or do more than share this brief statement.
I am fully aware that I owe [Ajax], my team-mates, and the supporters a fuller and more personal thank you. I will, of course, do that when the time feels more appropriate.
For now, I want to express my appreciation to Ajax once again, as well as everyone I haven’t had the chance to speak to in person yesterday, all of you who make this club so special.
His Premier League return will come full circle in emotional fashion. Liverpool are set to play Brentford at GTech Community Stadium on the weekend of October 25, raising the prospect of an on field reunion for Henderson and the club he captained, and he will make his long-awaited Anfield return on the final day of the 2025–26 season — a farewell moment he never received after departing in 2023.
Sunderland fans can also look ahead to his return to the Stadium of Light, where he’ll face boyhood club on August 30.
As Brentford prepare for a fresh chapter under Keith Andrews, the addition of a leader like Henderson could prove pivotal both on and off the pitch as the Bees aim to solidify their place in the top flight and navigate a summer of change.
