"All for it" - Sunderland told to seal dream transfer deal for 83-cap international midfielder | OneFootball

The Black Cats could make a move for Henderson as they return to the top-flight after eight years away

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sunderland have been told to sign former player and current Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson this summer as they prepare for life back in the Premier League after their last-gasp Championship play-off final win on Saturday afternoon.

The Black Cats' outstanding campaign under Regis Le Bris reached a brilliant conclusion at Wembley against Sheffield United as winger Tommy Watson struck in added-time to send his boyhood club back to the top-flight after eight long years away.

Le Bris will no doubt have been celebrating his unlikely victory over the last few days, but soon his full focus will turn to the upcoming summer transfer window, which promises to be one of the biggest in the club's history in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

Henderson, who was born on Wearside and came through Sunderland's youth ranks to become a full professional before leaving in 2011, was seen at the final supporting his boyhood club, which has sparked rumours that he could be one of the players brought in by Le Bris to bolster his depth and add top-flight experience to his squad ahead of the new season.

Sunderland fan pundit issues Jordan Henderson summer transfer verdict - he knows the club 'inside out'

Sunderland-born Henderson joined the club at the age of eight in 1998, and worked his way up their academy ranks to make 79 first-team appearances for the club following his professional debut in 2008.

He left the Black Cats for Liverpool in 2011, and quickly became a key man for the Reds while also making regular appearances for the England national team. Henderson captained Liverpool to multiple major trophy wins, including a Champions League in 2019 and a Premier League title in 2020.

The central midfielder made close to 500 appearances for the Merseyside giants before completing a surprise move to Al-Ettifaq in 2023, which did not work out as he left the Saudi Pro League side after just seven months at the club.

The 34-year-old has plied his trade with Dutch giants Ajax since January 2024, but could be on the move this summer with a dream return back to the Stadium of Light mooted after he watched the Black Cats secure promotion on Saturday afternoon and reacted to their win on Instagram.

FLW's Sunderland fan pundit, Jordan Newcombe, wants to see Henderson back playing for his boyhood club in the Premier League next season, as, despite his age, he believes he would be a valuable addition to their ranks due to his wealth of top-flight and international experience compared to the rest of Le Bris' squad.

“Henderson is a great player, and the only thing that really knocks me on that is his age and his pace," Jordan told FLW.

“Obviously in the midfield we are going to have players like Dan Neil, Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham (if he isn't sold), so we might not have a place for him.

“He does have that Premier League experience, though, so if we can try and get him on a cheap deal and go from there for the experience and the hold-up play in the midfield, alongside, say, Neil and Jobe if Rigg decides to leave…I am all for it.

“Would he be my first choice? No, but would I be open to him coming back? 100 per cent.

“It’s experience, he’s a born and bred Mackem, he knows the city and club inside out. He was at the play-off final, and obviously he has already expressed that he would like to come back, and if we can do it then that’s great.

“It gives us more passion in playing the game, and obviously it helps in training as well to have a player who has been there and done a lot more in the Premier League than the players we have got at the moment. I think it would be an alright move.”

Henderson has been linked with a Sunderland return - a move would surely make sense for him and the club

Black Cats boss Le Bris has built an impressive core of young, talented players who will undoubtedly fetch some sizeable transfer fees when they are sold on at some point in the future, but as it stands, his squad does lack the experience and nous that will be needed to keep the club afloat in the top-flight next season.

Their squad is certainly a top one in the second-tier, but improvements will need to be made this summer to a number of different positions. Former Black Cats defender Wes Brown previously warned their hierarchy that they would need to "change the whole team" if they were to go up, and now they have, it is certain to be a busy summer at the Stadium of Light.

Henderson has been a regular in top-flight football for nearly his whole career up to now, and his trophy cabinet and achievements speak for themselves when weighing up whether he would be a good signing for the Black Cats. It is a no-brainer to bring him back, and the real sticking point will surely be his own motives and aims.

Sunderland have reportedly already looked at re-signing the 34-year-old, after Football Insider revealed last October that they were lining up a move to sign him in the January transfer window.

Henderson was believed to be open to a Wearside return should a deal be agreed, but nothing materialised, and he played out the season at Ajax with 45 appearances in all competitions as they were beaten to the Eredivisie title by PSV Eindhoven following an almighty collapse in form.

Given his age, Henderson may well be looking to settle down closer to home as he edges closer to retirement, while also wanting to remain in Thomas Tuchel's England plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. A move back to the Stadium of Light feels likely, and it would surely make sense from both his and Sunderland's respective points of view.