Jordan Henderson’s Chelsea revival: How he’s still running Premier League midfields at 36, why Xabi Alonso is so enamoured with his role as dressing-room mentor and referee whisperer, and why he hasn’t given up on England dream

Riath Al-Samarrai highlights Jordan Henderson's resurgence at Chelsea, where the 36-year-old midfielder has emerged as an integral starter under manager Xabi Alonso. After joining on a free transfer from Brentford, Henderson has played every minute across Chelsea's last three Premier League matches, covering more distance than any other player on the pitch while also scoring twice in a 5-1 win over Bournemouth.

Beyond his physical endurance, Alonso highly values Henderson's tempo control, tactical nuances, and dressing-room leadership for Chelsea's young squad. Henderson has also made an impact communicating with referees, mentoring teammates like captain Moises Caicedo, and maintaining personal ambitions to feature for England at Euro 2028.