Jordan Henderson warns Liverpool “no friends” after Premier League return

Jordan Henderson has joined Brentford on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract after leaving Ajax. The 35-year-old England midfielder expressed his determination to prove he can still compete in the Premier League, stating he still has the "fire" to return to what he considers "the best league in the world." He described the move as a "big challenge" he is keen on, and said speaking with Brentford made it an "easy decision."

Henderson, the former Liverpool title-winning captain, left Anfield in 2023 for a controversial spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq before moving to Ajax. At Brentford, he is reuniting with former Liverpool teammates Caoimhin Kelleher, Sepp van den Berg, and Fabio Carvalho, which he finds helpful for settling in. He also mentioned playing against new Brentford boss Keith Andrews during his early career at Sunderland as another reason for joining.

Looking ahead, Henderson will face his boyhood club Sunderland at the end of August and return to play against Liverpool in October. While acknowledging both clubs mean a lot to him and that he owes Sunderland and Liverpool a debt, he stated clearly that "when I’m playing against them there’s no friends."