Jordan Brian Henderson (born 17 June 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool, whom he captains, and the England national team.
Henderson joined Sunderland A.F.C. at the age of eight, making his first-team debut in November 2008. He spent six months on loan at Coventry City in 2009 before returning to Sunderland. In 2011, Henderson signed for Liverpool, winning his first trophy with the club, the League Cup, one year later. Appointed Liverpool captain in 2015, Henderson won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019, and in 2020 led his team to the Premier League title, the club's first league title in 30 years. For his performances in the title-winning season, Henderson was named FWA Footballer of the Year. In 2022, Henderson lifted the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, where Liverpool defeated Chelsea on penalties.
An England international, Henderson has made 70 appearances for his country since his debut in 2010. He has appeared at five international tournaments with England, the 2012, 2016, 2020 UEFA European Championships, and the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups. He was the first player to win the England Player of the Year award at both the U-21 and senior level.
Henderson usually plays as a box-to-box midfielder, although under Klopp he has mostly been used as a defensive midfielder. However, with the arrival of Fabinho in 2018, Henderson moved back to his original "number 8" position as a central midfielder closer to the right side of the pitch, a role in which he excels the most. A versatile player, he has also been used in a more advanced midfield role on occasion, and even as a makeshift centre-back during periods of injury crisis among Liverpool's central defenders. He is widely regarded as a player who works hard and brings energy to the team.
Described as an "athletic and hardworking midfielder," Henderson has developed his game during his time at Liverpool, evolving into a more complete player; in particular, former Liverpool player Danny Murphy noted that his passing range had increased, which allowed him to take on an increasingly more creative role for his team. Furthermore, he constantly presses high up the field whenever the opposition is in possession. Besides physical attributes and footballing skills, he has also been praised for his tactical intelligence, consistency, and his leadership both on and off the pitch. He is also known for his ability to win challenges, transition the ball forward, and make attacking runs from midfield to get into good offensive positions.
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