Jordan Henderson is joining the Bees — but whom will the move sting?

Former Sunderland and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is set to join Brentford on a two-year deal. According to reporter David Ornstein, Henderson prioritised a move back to the Premier League after becoming a free agent when his contract with Ajax ended in the first week of July.

While other English top-flight clubs were also interested, Brentford won the race for the Englishman’s signature. The formal announcement has been delayed out of respect for the family of Henderson’s former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who died in a terrible car accident last week.

In July 2023, Henderson made the move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq after over a decade-long association with the Reds, having captained them to all major honours. However, he was unable to adjust to life in Saudi Arabia and had his contract terminated in January 2024. That same month, he joined Dutch heavyweights Ajax on a season-and-a-half contract.

After leaving Ajax, there had been strong expectations that Henderson would return to his boyhood club, Sunderland — especially with the Black Cats returning to the Premier League after an eight-year absence. Having come through the ranks of Sunderland’s academy, a homecoming seemed like the natural, almost poetic next step to bring his footballing career full circle.

That’s why the news of his move to Brentford has come as a surprise to many. Football decisions are rarely made on sentiment alone, and the 35-year-old likely had both personal and professional reasons for choosing the Gtech Community Stadium over the Stadium of Light.

Brentford had a decent Premier League campaign last time out, finishing tenth in the table under head coach Thomas Frank. However, the pressing question that now looms large is this: with the Brentford boss off to Tottenham Hotspur with most of his staff, and the Bees’ top players having either left or being linked with moves away, is this the right move for Henderson?

I’d argue that it’s not. The West London club have already seen Thomas Frank leave for Spurs and captain Christian Nørgaard join Arsenal, with forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa also rumoured to be on their way out. This isn’t good news for the Bees, and making a move to an unstable outfit with an inexperienced coach doesn’t seem like the best decision for Henderson either.

Although the veteran England international is Premier League-proven and brings a wealth of experience at the top level, age has caught up with him. He is no longer the dynamic presence he was five years ago, when he lifted the Premier League trophy as Liverpool captain. While he could still serve as a useful squad player, if he has been signed as a direct replacement for Nørgaard, then serious questions ought to be raised about Brentford’s recruitment strategy. An ageing Henderson is unlikely to withstand the physical demands of 35+ high-intensity matches in a Premier League season.

Equally concerning is Brentford’s decision to promote set-piece coach Keith Andrews to head coach on a three-year deal. Andrews has no prior experience managing a first team, yet now he’s being tasked with leading a side in arguably the most competitive league in the world. This, along with key departures from the squad, suggests Brentford could be in real danger of slipping into a relegation battle after several solid seasons in the top flight.

That said, Brentford are a well-run club with an excellent recruitment team. If they make the right appointments, Jordan Henderson’s move could prove to be a smart decision for both parties.

However, there are too many uncertainties, and professional sport is rarely based on hypotheticals — making this an unexpected, potentially misguided decision for the former Liverpool captain.