Completing an astonishing return to Sunderland would ‘make sense’ for Jordan Henderson.
That’s the view of talkSPORT’s Darren Bent, who believes it would be like a homecoming for fans at the Stadium of Light.
Henderson’s career started in the Sunderland academy before he broke into the first-team picture in 2008, leaving three years later for Liverpool.
It’s a move that delivered huge amounts of success for the midfielder as, during a 12-year career at Anfield he collected a full set of major trophies – winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
Henderson completed a controversial move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq in 2023 but spent just six months in the Middle East before a move to Ajax.
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While the 34-year-old was seen as a key signing in his first season in Amsterdam, as a leader and central figure in a young team, he has struggled in his second campaign having started just two league games.
He has been linked with a possible return to the Premier League – with the former captain even pictured back at Liverpool in a recent visit to his old teammates.
But Bent is keen for him to rejoin his boyhood club Sunderland, who are currently flying high at the top of the Championship.
When asked on talkSPORT Drive if Henderson still has something to offer for a Premier League side, or could head back to the Stadium of Light, his former Black Cats teammate Bent was fully supportive.
“I mean, he’s 34, but I still think he could definitely do a job in the Premier League, 100 per cent – he looks after himself,” said Bent.
“I just feel going back to Sunderland makes sense, you know what I mean?
“That’s his club, that’s where he started, that’s where I played with him, and I’m sure the fans would love him back.
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“He’s had an unbelievable career when you look back at what he’s won, what he’s done, he’s competed for England, he’s had an incredible career.
“So I think for Sunderland fans it’s almost like a homecoming, and I think that’d be really nice for him to go there.”
Bent was then questioned on whether or not Henderson would have any regrets about leaving Liverpool, and replied: “I think you’re always going to regret leaving a club like that.
“Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I think you’ll always think, ‘Do I really want to?’ But was it [Jurgen] Klopp said that he wasn’t going to get as many minutes as he’d like?
“I think with what he’s achieved and what he’s wanted to achieve in his career, going back to Sunderland would be a really, really nice way to… not so much end it, because I still think he’s got a good three or four years left.
“He looks after himself, so he could still play when he’s 37.”
Henderson has made 12 appearances in all competitions for Ajax so far this season, but six of those were in the Europa League qualifying stages, and he’s started just three games since they booked their spot in the competition.
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Even though his contract runs until summer 2026, clubs are reportedly on alert amid his desire to leave.
If he was to complete a mid-season homecoming to Sunderland, for whom he previously featured 79 times, he would drop down to the Championship.
However, the Black Cats sit top of the table and are hopeful of promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
Whilst such a move could answer questions over his club career, it remains to be seen if he will return to international football with England.
Henderson has earned 81 caps for the Three Lions but has not played since November 2023 and was absent from their Euro 2024 squad.
