Chelsea hold positive talks for Welbeck and show interest in Henderson
Chelsea have reportedly held positive initial discussions with Brighton regarding a deal for Danny Welbeck. Concurrently, the club is also showing interest in signing Jordan Henderson from Brentford.
Reports indicate that Chelsea and Brighton have engaged in positive talks concerning Welbeck. The striker, who has one year remaining on his contract, may be allowed to leave if Brighton receives a fair price for his transfer. Welbeck has maintained a reliable goal-scoring record in the Premier League, having scored 13 times last season and 10 in the campaign before that.
His potential arrival at Stamford Bridge could further impact the futures of current strikers such as Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, and Marc Guiu. Welbeck has reportedly agreed to personal terms with Chelsea, with discussions for a transfer fee ongoing.
Interest in experienced players
In addition to Welbeck, Chelsea are also interested in acquiring Jordan Henderson from Brentford. Henderson, an England international, is currently recovering from an arm injury sustained during the 2026 World Cup. He suffered a broken left arm after slipping during his side’s match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, which required surgery. He made one substitute appearance in England’s final group-stage game.
Brentford has indicated that they would not prevent Henderson from leaving if a major club expressed interest. He has one year left on his contract with Brentford, having joined them as a free agent from Ajax in 2025. It is possible he could leave on a free transfer, though this is not certain if multiple clubs pursue him. Chelsea is considered a leading contender among several Premier League clubs vying for his services.
Henderson made 22 league starts for Brentford last season, appearing an additional 10 times as a substitute. He had played 57 games for Ajax between 2023 and 2025. The midfielder previously spent 12 seasons at Anfield with Liverpool, where he became captain and won the Premier League and Champions League, making 492 appearances across all competitions. He then moved to Al Ettifaq in the summer of 2023 before returning to England.
Shift in transfer strategy
The pursuit of both Welbeck and Henderson signals a potential shift in Chelsea’s transfer policy, which has recently focused on younger talent. The club previously targeted Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka earlier this summer, with an £8m offer reportedly declined.
Chelsea has already made significant signings this summer, including Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m, a record fee for a British player, and Marco Palestra from Atalanta. They are also close to signing defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace. The club has seen some departures, with Andrey Santos joining Manchester United in a deal worth up to £50m.
The club’s interest in experienced players like Welbeck and Henderson, both in their mid-thirties, marks a departure from their previous strategy of acquiring young prospects. This change aligns with new manager Xabi Alonso’s apparent focus on integrating experienced players into the squad. Chelsea has previously signed several players from Brighton, including Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Robert Sanchez.
The club is currently on a pre-season tour in Australia, where they are scheduled to play Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, followed by a match against Juventus in Hong Kong.
Source: skysports.com
