What are the benefits? Why did Chelsea choose an unusual approach by targeting veteran players Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson?
On 29 Jul 2026 GMT+7, in recent days, Chelsea under the guidance of new Spanish manager Xabi Alonso has been rumored to seek the signings of experienced English striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton & Hove Albion and seasoned English midfielder Jordan Henderson from Brentford this summer.
The first, Danny Welbeck, a former Manchester United youth product, is now 35 years old. The second, Jordan Henderson, now 36, once captained Liverpool to Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.
In terms of skill and reputation, both remain top-level players. However, purely by age, both conflict with the policy of the London Blues, who have not fielded any player over 30 since May 2024, when Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, then 39, last played for the team.
Since then, the Stamford Bridge club has focused on developing young talent and refrained from using players over 30 for hundreds of consecutive matches across all competitions. Clearly, signing Welbeck and Henderson breaks this longstanding approach. Both moves seem certain, as Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Welbeck's transfer is done, with Henderson's close to completion.
Now, examining why Xabi Alonso's team pursued these two veterans: firstly, both maintain excellent physical condition despite being in their mid-30s. Welbeck played 37 Premier League matches last season for Brighton, totaling 2,263 minutes and scoring 13 goals—just two fewer than Joao Pedro. Chelsea likely wants Welbeck to share the attacking load with the Brazilian striker, especially after Liam Delap managed only one league goal.
Regarding Jordan Henderson, the team aims to bring him in to support 25-year-old Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Ecuadorian Moises Caicedo after recently selling Andre Santos to league rivals Manchester United. Henderson appeared in 32 league games for Brentford last season.
He logged 1,932 minutes on the pitch, starting 22 times and coming off the bench 10 times, scoring once and assisting three goals. He is expected to provide valuable experience, leadership, and midfield balance to the younger players. Tactically and strategically, this could be a good deal, though the final outcome remains to be seen.