Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Jordan Henderson from Brentford, with personal terms already agreed on a two-year contract, according to Nicolo Schira.
The Blues finished 10th in the Premier League last season, a disappointing conclusion that highlighted the consequences of fielding such a young and inexperienced squad throughout the campaign.
Chelsea named the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League last season, with an average age of just 24 years and 194 days, a statistic that came to define their inconsistency.
Discipline was another serious problem for the club, as Chelsea accumulated a league-high eight red cards and 88 yellow cards over the course of the season.
Head coach Xabi Alonso has made no secret of his desire to add maturity and leadership to the squad, a philosophy that defined his time at Bayer Leverkusen.
During his first full season at Leverkusen, Alonso signed four players aged 27 or older before guiding the club to its first-ever Bundesliga title, demonstrating his preference for experienced figures in the dressing room.
Chelsea have already moved to address that imbalance this summer by agreeing a deal to sign Danny Welbeck from Brighton and Hove Albion, as well as completing the signing of 26-year-old Maxence Lacroix.
Henderson, who has made 463 Premier League appearances and earned 90 caps for England, represents another significant step in that direction for Alonso’s side.
Schira reports that Chelsea are now in advanced talks with Brentford and that direct negotiations between the two clubs are scheduled to resume in the coming hours to finalise the transfer fee.
Brentford boss Keith Andrew spoke glowingly about Henderson’s influence last season, saying “He’s a big presence, as I’m sure people are aware of and know. For us, the way he carries himself, his presence on the pitch, his leadership qualities – I think it did go a little bit under the radar.”
Henderson, who has been described as “terrific” by Virgil van Dijk, is expected to bring both leadership and a winning mentality to Stamford Bridge this summer.
His arrival would give Chelsea’s younger players a seasoned role model capable of guiding them through the high-pressure demands of competing at the top level of English football.
If the deal is completed as anticipated, Henderson would become one of the most experienced players at the club, adding a level of composure and game management that Chelsea have clearly lacked in recent seasons.