Jordan Henderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jordan Henderson
MBE

Henderson with Ajax in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Jordan Brian Henderson
Date of birth	(1990-06-17) 17 June 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth	Sunderland, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Brentford
Number	6
Youth career
1998–2008	Sunderland
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Sunderland	71	(4)
2009	→ Coventry City (loan)	10	(1)
2011–2023	Liverpool	360	(29)
2023–2024	Al-Ettifaq	17	(0)
2024–2025	Ajax	37	(1)
2025–	Brentford	0	(0)
International career‡
2009	England U19	1	(0)
2009	England U20	1	(0)
2010–2013	England U21	27	(4)
2010–	England	84	(3)
Medal record Men's football Representing  England UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2020 UEFA Nations League Third 2019
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:56, 15 July 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:56, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

Jordan Brian Henderson (born 17 June 1990) is an English professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder for the English club Brentford and the England national team. He is well-known for his strong leadership, ability to play in different positions, and physical strength on the field.

Henderson joined the Sunderland Academy when he was eight years old. He made his first-team debut for Sunderland in November 2008. In 2009, he spent six months on loan at Coventry City before returning to Sunderland.

In 2011, Henderson joined Liverpool. He won his first trophy with the club, the League Cup, a year later. He became Liverpool's captain in 2015. As captain, he led Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019. In 2020, he guided his team to win the Premier League title. For his great performances that season, Henderson was named FWA Footballer of the Year. In 2022, he won the FA Cup and the EFL Cup with Liverpool.

Henderson has played over 80 matches for the England national team since his first game in 2010. He has played in six major international tournaments for England. These include the 2012, 2016, and 2020 UEFA European Championships. He also played in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cups. He was the first player to win the England Player of the Year award at both the Under-21 and senior levels.

Early Life and Football Start

Jordan Brian Henderson was born on 17 June 1990 in Sunderland, England. He joined the youth team of his hometown club, Sunderland, when he was eight years old. Henderson also attended Farringdon Community Sports College.

Club Career Highlights

Playing for Sunderland

First Steps and Loan Spell

Henderson signed his first professional contract with Sunderland on 1 July 2008. He made his first-team debut on 1 November 2008. This was in a Premier League match against Chelsea. He then played his first home game for Sunderland in the League Cup.

In January 2009, Henderson joined Championship club Coventry City on a short loan. He played his first game for Coventry in a match against Derby County. His loan was extended until the end of the season. On 28 February 2009, he scored his first senior goal against Norwich City. He returned to Sunderland in April 2009 after getting a foot injury.

Becoming a Key Player

Henderson playing for Sunderland in 2011

During the 2009–10 season, Henderson became a regular player for Sunderland. He played 38 matches and scored 2 goals. His first senior goal for the club was against Birmingham City in the League Cup. He also scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester City.

Henderson often played on the right side of midfield. He also played in the middle when needed. His ability to play in different roles and his consistent performance earned him a new five-year contract in April 2010. He also won the Sunderland Young Player of the Year award for that season.

He continued to be a very important player in the 2010–11 season. He played 39 matches and scored 3 goals. On 13 January 2011, FIFA listed him as one of 13 young players to watch. He won Sunderland's Young Player of the Year award for the second season in a row.

Time at Liverpool

Early Years and First Trophies

Henderson playing for Liverpool in 2011

On 9 June 2011, Henderson moved to Liverpool. He made his debut in Liverpool's first match of the 2011–12 Premier League season against his old club, Sunderland. On 27 August 2011, he scored his first goal for Liverpool against Bolton Wanderers.

On 26 February 2012, Henderson started in the League Cup final against Cardiff City, which Liverpool won. He also played in the 2012 FA Cup final where Liverpool lost to Chelsea. He finished the 2011–12 season with 2 goals from 48 games.

In August 2012, Henderson decided to stay at Liverpool even when he had the chance to move to Fulham. He scored his first European goal for Liverpool on 6 December 2012. This goal helped Liverpool qualify for the next round of the UEFA Europa League.

Henderson became a regular player for Liverpool in the 2013–14 season. He played 40 matches and scored 5 goals. On 29 September 2013, he played his 100th game for the club.

Henderson playing for Liverpool in 2014

On 13 April 2014, he received his first red card against Manchester City. This meant he missed three important matches. Liverpool struggled without him, and Manchester City won the league title.

Henderson started the 2014–15 season very well. He was named the club's vice-captain. On 29 November, he captained Liverpool for the first time in the Premier League. On 2 December, he played his 150th game for the club and scored a goal. In April, Henderson signed a new five-year contract with Liverpool.

Becoming Club Captain and Major Wins

Henderson playing for Liverpool in 2020

After Steven Gerrard left in June 2015, Henderson became the captain of Liverpool. He faced some injuries, including a heel problem and a broken bone in his foot. He returned to play in November 2015. He scored in his first game back against West Bromwich Albion. Another knee injury kept him out until the end of the season. He finished the 2015–16 season with 26 games and 2 goals.

Henderson started the 2016–17 season as a regular player. On 16 September, he scored a fantastic goal from 25 yards against Chelsea. This goal won him the Premier League Goal of the Month award for September. He ended the season with 27 games and 1 goal.

In the 2017–18 season, Henderson was a key player. He scored his only goal of the season against Leicester City. On 15 August 2017, he captained Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. He led Liverpool all the way to the final in Kyiv, where they lost to Real Madrid. He played 41 games that season, scoring 1 goal.

Henderson signed a new five-year deal with Liverpool in 2018. He wanted to stay at Liverpool for as long as possible. On 7 May 2019, he played through pain with a knee injury to help Liverpool reach their second Champions League final in a row. Liverpool made an amazing comeback against Barcelona, winning 4–0 after being 3–0 down.

On 1 June 2019, Henderson captained Liverpool to a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 Champions League final in Madrid. He became the fifth Liverpool captain to lift the Champions League trophy. Liverpool then won the 2019 UEFA Super Cup by beating Chelsea. On 21 December 2019, Henderson led Liverpool to their first FIFA Club World Cup title. They beat Flamengo 1–0 in the final.

Liverpool finished the 2018–19 season with many points but came second in the league. Their great form continued into the next season. After a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Henderson led Liverpool to win their first league title in 30 years on 25 June 2020. He was praised for his passionate performances and was named the FWA Footballer of the Year for 2020. He played 40 games during the 2019–20 season.

Domestic Success and Departure

Henderson with Liverpool in 2022

On 31 August 2021, Henderson signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool. He scored his first Champions League goal in seven years on 15 September. This was the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over AC Milan. On 24 October, he captained Liverpool to a 5–0 win against Manchester United. Henderson made his 300th Premier League appearance for Liverpool on 8 November.

On 14 May 2022, Henderson became the first Liverpool captain to win six different trophies after winning the 2021–22 FA Cup. Liverpool also won the EFL Cup that season. At the end of the 2022–23 season, Liverpool just missed out on Champions League qualification. On 26 July 2023, Henderson announced he was leaving Liverpool after 12 years.

Playing for Al-Ettifaq

On 27 July 2023, Henderson signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq. The transfer fee was reported to be £12 million. His former Liverpool teammate, Steven Gerrard, was the manager of Al-Ettifaq. Henderson made his debut on 14 August in a 2–1 win against Al-Nassr. In January 2024, Henderson left Al-Ettifaq after his contract ended by agreement.

Playing for Ajax

On 18 January 2024, Henderson signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Eredivisie club Ajax. He made his debut on 3 February in a 1–1 draw with PSV. He became a free agent on 9 July 2025.

Playing for Brentford

On 15 July 2025, Henderson returned to England. He signed a two-year contract with Premier League club Brentford.

International Career

Youth Teams

Henderson playing for England U21s in 2012

Henderson first played for the under-19s in 2009. He then joined Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad. He scored his first goal for England in the European U21 Championship play-offs against Romania.

Henderson was part of the England U21 squad for the 2011 European Championship. He captained the England U21 team in a 6–0 win over Azerbaijan U21 in September 2011, scoring a goal. He scored his fourth under-21 goal against Norway. In February 2013, Henderson was named the England U21 Player of the Year. He also captained the under-21 team at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Senior England Team

On 11 November 2010, Henderson received his first call-up to the senior England squad. He made his debut on 17 November in a friendly match against France.

Henderson was called up to the England Euro 2012 squad to replace an injured player. He played in England's first match against France. He also came on as a substitute in England's quarter-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy.

He was chosen for Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He started in England's first two group matches.

Henderson was also selected for the England Euro 2016 squad. He played one match, the final group game against Slovakia, which ended 0–0.

Henderson with England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

He was part of the England squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In England's match against Colombia, Henderson missed a penalty in the shoot-out, but England still won. The following year, he helped England finish third in the UEFA Nations League. He was named England Player of the Year in 2019.

Henderson scored his first international goal on 3 July 2021 in the Euro 2020 quarter-final game against Ukraine. He scored England's last goal in the 4–0 win. In the UEFA Euro 2020 final, England finished as runners-up.

Henderson was named in England's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He scored his first World Cup goal in the round of 16 against Senegal.

He was not included in the preliminary England squad for the Euro 2024 tournament. However, Henderson was recalled to the squad in March 2025 for matches against Albania and Latvia.

Player Profile

Henderson in 2022

How He Plays

Henderson usually plays as a box-to-box midfielder. This means he helps both in defense and attack. Under manager Jürgen Klopp, he often played as a defensive midfielder. When Fabinho joined in 2018, Henderson moved back to his "number 8" position. This is a central midfielder role, often closer to the right side of the field.

He is a very versatile player, meaning he can play in different positions. Sometimes, he has even played as a temporary centre-back when the team had many injuries. He is known for working hard and bringing a lot of energy to the team. His leadership, versatility, and physical strength are key parts of his game.

Experts say Henderson has improved his game a lot over the years. His passing has become better, allowing him to create more chances for his team. He also constantly puts pressure on the opposing team when they have the ball. Besides his physical skills, he is praised for his smart play, consistency, and leadership both on and off the field. He is also good at winning the ball, moving it forward, and making runs into attacking positions.

Henderson has made the most successful passes of any player in Premier League history, with 23,364.

What People Say About Him

Early in his career, some people thought he wasn't a crucial player. However, he later received a lot of praise for how much he improved. Flamengo manager Jorge Jesus called him the "best midfielder in the world in his position" after their match in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup Final. Liverpool coach Klopp described him as "exceptional" and "outstanding." Steven Gerrard said that teams like Liverpool need a player like Jordan Henderson to work well.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Henderson is a fan of Sunderland. He even attended the 2014 League Cup final as a Sunderland supporter while he was a Liverpool player. On the same day he was named Liverpool captain, it was announced he would be on the cover of the UK edition of FIFA 16 alongside Lionel Messi.

Henderson and his wife Rebecca Burnett have three children. His father, Brian, who was a policeman, survived cancer during Jordan's early career at Liverpool. He was able to watch the 2019 Champions League final in Madrid.

In December 2020, Henderson showed his support for different communities. He stated that "everyone is welcome at Liverpool Football Club." This message was well-received by fans and community groups.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Henderson, as Liverpool's captain, helped organize a fund for the NHS. His idea was for Premier League footballers to contribute money to support frontline NHS workers.

Henderson was given the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2021. This was for his contributions to football and his charity work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His autobiography, Jordan Henderson: The Autobiography, was released in October 2022.

In July 2023, Henderson faced some criticism for his move to Saudi Arabia. He later explained that his intention was never to upset anyone. He said his goal has always been to help different causes and communities. While playing in Saudi Arabia, Henderson, manager Steven Gerrard, and their families lived in nearby Bahrain.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Henderson playing for England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Henderson goal

List of international goals scored by Jordan Henderson

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	3 July 2021	Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy	62	Ukraine	4–0	4–0	UEFA Euro 2020
2	12 November 2021	Wembley Stadium, London, England	68	Albania	3–0	5–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	4 December 2022	Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar	73	Senegal	1–0	3–0	2022 FIFA World Cup

Honours and Awards

Liverpool

• Premier League: 2019–20
• FA Cup: 2021–22; runner-up: 2011–12
• Football League Cup/EFL Cup: 2011–12, 2021–22; runner-up: 2015–16
• FA Community Shield: 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2018–19; runner-up: 2017–18, 2021–22
• UEFA Super Cup: 2019
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2019
• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2015–16

England

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2020
• UEFA Nations League third place: 2018–19

Individual Awards

• England U21 Player of the Year Award: 2012
• Liverpool Young Player of the Year: 2011–12
• Sunderland Young Player of the Year: 2009–10, 2010–11
• Premier League Goal of the Month: September 2016
• England Senior Men's Player of the Year: 2019
• FWA Footballer of the Year: 2019–20
• Liverpool Fans' Player of the Season: 2019–20
• PFA Team of the Year: 2019–20 Premier League
• ESM Team of the Year: 2019–20

Orders

• Member of the Order of the British Empire: 2021

See also

In Spanish: Jordan Henderson para niños