Chelsea's oldest signings ever: Where Henderson and Welbeck rank after Stamford Bridge moves

For a nine that spent overmuch of the past decennary assembling 1 of the youngest squads successful Premier League history, Chelsea's transportation concern nether Xabi Alonso marks a notable alteration successful direction.

The imminent arrivals of Jordan Henderson, 36, and Danny Welbeck, 35, correspond a wide displacement towards acquisition and would spot some players fertile among the oldest footballers ever to motion for the Blues. 

With reports that some deals are successful their last stages, Sports Mole takes a look astatine wherever Henderson and Welbeck would beryllium among Chelsea's oldest signings.

Mark Schwarzer – 40 years old

The oldest subordinate Chelsea person signed successful the Premier League era, Mark Schwarzer arrived connected a escaped transportation from Fulham successful the summertime of 2013 astatine the property of 40. 

Although Petr Cech remained archetypal prime and Thibaut Courtois returned from his indebtedness spell a twelvemonth later, the Australian proved to beryllium an invaluable beingness astir the squad.

Schwarzer made 12 appearances crossed 2 seasons, including 4 successful the Premier League, portion his professionalism and acquisition earned wide praise from Jose Mourinho. 

He besides became the oldest subordinate to correspond Chelsea successful the Champions League erstwhile helium featured against Atletico Madrid successful the 2013-14 semi-finals.

Robert Green – 38 years old

Five years aft Schwarzer's arrival, Chelsea again turned to acquisition betwixt the posts by signing Rob Green connected a escaped transportation from Huddersfield Town.

Green ne'er made a competitory quality during his sole play astatine Stamford Bridge, serving arsenic third-choice goalkeeper down Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero nether Maurizio Sarri. 

His publication came astir wholly down the scenes, arsenic helium remained an experienced fig successful the dressing room. 

Didier Drogba (second spell) – 36 years old

Didier Drogba's instrumentality to Stamford Bridge successful 2014 was driven arsenic overmuch by enactment arsenic sentiment, with Mourinho bringing 1 of Chelsea's greatest-ever players backmost to westbound London aft his spell astatine Galatasaray.

Although helium was nary longer the talismanic striker who had inspired Chelsea to Champions League glory successful 2012, Drogba inactive played an important relation during the 2014-15 campaign, scoring 7 goals successful 40 appearances arsenic the Blues won the Premier League and League Cup. 

His power extended good beyond his performances connected the pitch, providing invaluable acquisition successful a title-winning dressing room.

Jordan Henderson – 36 years aged (incoming)

Should his determination from Brentford beryllium completed arsenic expected, Henderson volition go 1 of the oldest outfield players Chelsea person signed successful the modern era.

The erstwhile Liverpool skipper arrives aft rebuilding his estimation pursuing hard spells astatine Al-Ettifaq and Ajax, bringing leadership, tactical quality and adjacent to 800 elder appearances astatine nine and planetary level. 

While his legs whitethorn not screen rather arsenic overmuch crushed arsenic they erstwhile did, Chelsea volition anticipation his acquisition tin assistance usher 1 of the Premier League's youngest squads done different demanding campaign.

Willy Caballero – 35 years old

Signed from Manchester City successful 2017, Willy Caballero proved to beryllium a dependable lawman crossed 4 seasons successful westbound London.

The Argentine goalkeeper made 38 appearances and kept 14 cleanable sheets, providing reliable screen whenever called upon. 

He was denied an quality successful the 2019 EFL Cup last aft Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to permission the transportation contempt Maurizio Sarri attempting to substitute him, but Caballero remained an important subordinate of Chelsea's goalkeeping radical passim his stay.

Danny Welbeck – 35 years aged (incoming)

Welbeck's expected accomplishment follows arguably the finest goalscoring play of his career, having enjoyed an outstanding run with Brighton & Hove Albion earlier agreeing to articulation Chelsea.

Never a striker judged solely connected goals, Welbeck has built his vocation connected intelligent movement, tireless pressing and fantabulous link-up play. 

Across six seasons with Brighton, helium developed into 1 of the Premier League's astir reliable all-round forwards, and Chelsea volition anticipation his caller signifier and wealthiness of acquisition tin supply different invaluable enactment successful attack.

Thiago Silva – 35 years old

Few Chelsea signings person exceeded expectations rather similar Thiago Silva.

When the Brazilian arrived connected a escaped transportation from Paris Saint-Germain successful 2020 astatine the property of 35, determination were understandable questions implicit whether helium could inactive header with the gait and strength of English football. 

Instead, Silva became 1 of the club's astir palmy late-career signings, helping Chelsea triumph the Champions League successful his archetypal play earlier making much than 150 appearances crossed 4 years.

Named Chelsea's Player of the Season for 2022-23, Silva acceptable the benchmark for experienced signings astatine Stamford Bridge, combining enactment and world-class prime passim his clip astatine the club.

Olivier Giroud – 31 years old

Olivier Giroud's January 2018 determination from Arsenal initially divided opinion, but the Frenchman rapidly established himself arsenic 1 of Chelsea's astir effectual forwards.

He scored 39 goals successful 119 appearances and helped the Blues triumph some the Europa League and Champions League. 

Giroud besides finished arsenic Chelsea's starring scorer successful their triumphant 2020-21 Champions League run with six goals, including 4 successful a memorable group-stage triumph implicit Sevilla.

His quality to present successful the biggest moments ensured helium near Stamford Bridge arsenic 1 of the club's astir respected modern signings, proving that acquisition tin beryllium conscionable arsenic invaluable arsenic younker erstwhile surrounded by the close squad.