'Couldn't turn it down' - Chelsea confirm Henderson signing

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of England midfielder Jordan Henderson.

The 36-year-old joins on a free transfer having left Brentford by mutual consent, and has signed a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were keen to add experience to Xabi Alonso's squad this summer and have now brought in Henderson and Danny Welbeck, 35, in the same window.

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"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.

"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."

Why are Chelsea signing older players?

Sky Sports' Adam Bate:

Chelsea have not featured a player over the age of 30 in two years and had not paid for one in four. Now they are signing veterans. And the word is that Xabi Alonso is driving it.

If it is a reaction to concerns over a lack of leadership within the Chelsea dressing room that would be understandable given how badly they faded towards the back end of last season. But this is as much about Alonso's experience as the lack of it inside Cobham.

For the new Chelsea manager - not head coach, remember - this is a template that he knows can work. It was one of the key lessons of his success at Bayer Leverkusen, the German club that he dramatically transformed into invincible double winners in 2024.

Leverkusen had the second youngest team in the Bundesliga in the preceding season. Their reputation for delivering young talent but not trophies long pre-dated that. Alonso took them to a sixth-placed finish that year but he wanted a win-now mentality instead.

In came Granit Xhaka and Jonas Hofmann, both over the age of 30 and uncharacteristic Leverkusen signings. Alex Grimaldo joined just before his 28th birthday. Simon Rolfes, the club's sporting director, talked of the need to provide the team with role models.

It was a sea change for Leverkusen.

Como agree deal to sign Chelsea's Chalobah

Como have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Trevoh Chalobah.

The deal is worth an initial £25.7m (€30m) plus a further £5.1m (€6m) in potential add-ons. The England international has already agreed personal terms with the Italian club.

Como will now look to finalise the transfer following lengthy negotiations with Chelsea. The sale of an academy graduate will represent pure profit for the West London side.