Chelsea are closing in on the surprise signings of experienced England internationals Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck as the club looks to inject leadership into its youthful squad ahead of the new season.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, personal terms have already been discussed with both players and are not expected to pose any obstacle to completing the deals. Chelsea are now working on the remaining details, with Henderson expected to leave Brentford on a free transfer while negotiations continue with Brighton & Hove Albion for Welbeck.
Henderson, 36, has one year remaining on his Brentford contract, but the club is understood to be willing to allow the former Liverpool captain to leave if an agreement is reached. The midfielder made 34 appearances in all competitions last season after joining Brentford from Ajax and remains valued for his leadership qualities.
Welbeck, 35, is also open to a move to Stamford Bridge after enjoying one of the best seasons of his career with Brighton. The former England striker scored a career-best 13 Premier League goals in 37 appearances last season, taking his tally to 51 goals in 201 matches for the Seagulls since joining from Watford in 2020.
Although Welbeck signed a one-year contract extension in March, keeping him at Brighton until the end of the 2026-27 season, Chelsea are optimistic that a deal can still be reached.
The pursuit of Henderson and Welbeck signals a notable shift in Chelsea’s transfer strategy after years of focusing almost exclusively on younger players. Club officials now believe the squad would benefit from experienced professionals capable of providing leadership both on and off the pitch.
The move follows comments made by influential Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali in April, when he acknowledged that the club’s youth-focused recruitment model required adjustment.
Should the transfers be completed, Henderson and Welbeck would bring a wealth of Premier League and international experience to Xabi Alonso’s squad as Chelsea seek a better balance between youth and experience ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.