Chelsea set to complete shock signings of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck

Chelsea are in talks over moves for Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson and Brighton striker Danny Welbeck as the club look to add more experience to their squad this summer.

The Blues are exploring a deal for Henderson, with the 36-year-old having one year remaining on his contract at Brentford. The Bees are willing to allow the former England international to leave on a free transfer.

Henderson joined Brentford from Ajax and made 34 appearances in all competitions last season. He also remains part of the England set-up, making one substitute appearance at the World Cup before suffering a broken arm while celebrating the last-16 victory over Mexico.

Chelsea are also interested in Welbeck, with the former England striker keen on a move to Stamford Bridge. There is optimism from the club’s side that an agreement can be reached.

Welbeck, 35, enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career last term, scoring 13 Premier League goals in 37 appearances for Brighton. That took his tally for the Seagulls to 51 goals in 201 matches since joining from Watford in 2020.

The striker signed a 12-month contract extension in March, with his current deal running until the end of the 2026-27 season.

The potential arrivals come as Chelsea look to adjust their recruitment strategy after previously focusing heavily on younger players.

Co-owner Behdad Eghbali said in April that the club’s model of signing young talent needed a “tweak”, with Chelsea now looking to add more experienced players to the squad.

The Blues have already moved for players with Premier League experience this summer, signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a club-record £117m and bringing in full-back Marco Palestra. They are also expected to complete a £52m deal for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.

Chelsea’s forward options

A move for Welbeck would increase competition in Chelsea’s attack, with the club already having several forwards available.

Joao Pedro is viewed as Chelsea’s first-choice option, while Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson are also part of the squad.

Guiu is available for either a permanent transfer or loan move, with Chelsea valuing the forward at around £25m.

Jackson returned to Stamford Bridge following a loan spell at Bayern Munich and was expected to remain at Chelsea, but he is open to leaving amid interest from Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

Delap was keen to establish himself under new manager Xabi Alonso after joining from Ipswich for £30m last summer, although he is now increasingly expected to depart.

Emegha is expected to stay after only recently joining Chelsea from Strasbourg, a club within the same ownership group.

Welbeck brings Premier League experience

Chelsea are now looking to combine their long-term recruitment model with players who can provide immediate Premier League experience as Alonso continues to shape his squad.

Welbeck’s form for Brighton last season has made him an attractive option for Chelsea as they look to bring more experience into their squad.

The striker featured in 37 of Brighton’s 38 Premier League matches and scored 13 goals, putting him joint-ninth in the league’s scoring charts.

Alongside his goalscoring record, Welbeck’s ability to hold the ball up, link play and support teammates has been viewed as a key part of his game.

His experience and influence within the dressing room are also considered valuable, particularly for a Chelsea squad containing a number of younger players.

The possible signings of Welbeck and Henderson follow Chelsea’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, with the Black Cats unwilling to sell the Switzerland international.