Henderson: The first interview
Jordan Henderson granted his one and only interview after completing his switch to Anfield to Liverpoolfc.tv. Watch it all or read the transcript below.
We were with the 20-year-old as he penned a long-term deal at Melwood and afterwards he spoke about his ambitions at Liverpool and his talks with Kenny Dalglish.
Can you put into words how you are feeling right now?
Not really! I'm over the moon, overjoyed to be here and I'm really looking forward to it.
What was your initial reaction when you heard of Liverpool's interest?
I was flattered to know Liverpool were interested in me and, once I knew, it was a massive decision for me to make but also a massive opportunity.
How difficult was it for you to leave your local club?
Obviously it's hard to leave your local club. I'm a Sunderland lad, I've supported them all my life. But I'm really looking forward to the future now and obviously this is a massive opportunity for me. I'm really excited by it.
Did you seek advice from anyone about the decision?
Yes, obviously my family are all Sunderland fans as well, and it's pretty tough because I've had some great years there. I've been there since I was seven and I'll definitely miss it but, like I say, I'm looking forward to playing for Liverpool now.
There is a lot of competition for places here - is that something you're ready for?
Definitely. Coming to a massive club like Liverpool, there is always going to be competition. Hopefully I can keep working hard, keep improving, and get my chance on the pitch.
One player you'll be playing alongside is Steven Gerrard - how exciting is that for you and how big a role model has he been over the years?
He is one of the best players in the world, you want to be playing with him and training with him to try and improve yourself as a player. I've trained with him once (for England) and he was unbelievable, to be honest. I'm looking forward to it, and there are other good players here who can help me as well. Steven has been a massive, massive player for Liverpool for years now and he still is. Hopefully I can learn a lot from him.
And how does the thought of playing at Anfield every week sound?
I cannot wait to play at Anfield in front of the Liverpool fans and everything. I'm just excited and I want to get going.
What about Kenny Dalglish - are you looking forward to working with him over the next few years?
Yes, of course. He's done brilliantly since he came back to the club. He's done such a good job in such a short space of time. Hopefully he'll carry on doing that. I've already spoken to him and he's been brilliant with me so far. I'm really looking forward to it.
What kind of things were said between you?
I basically just thanked him for bringing me here. He seemed just as pleased as I was and that's obviously a good thing! It was all positive.
It's the start of an exciting new era at the club. What do you believe you can achieve here?
There is a lot to achieve. It's a massive club and we've seen over the last few months how good they are. So I'm just coming here to learn and try to improve my game and I'm sure that along the way there will be a lot of happy memories.
It must be in your mind that you could win trophies here?
Yes, of course. You come to a big club and you want to win things. Liverpool have won a lot in the past and hopefully there is a lot more to come in the future.
Lots of other clubs were reportedly interested in you - do you believe Liverpool is the best place for your development and for you to realise your football dreams?
Yes, definitely. Liverpool's definitely the place to help me come on as a player, and improve me. The club's going in the right direction and it can go as high as it wants.
You're the first major summer signing at Anfield - what's your message to the fans?
I'd like to tell them that I'm over the moon to be here and they will see me giving everything I've got in every game I play. Hopefully they'll enjoy watching me as much as I'll enjoy playing for this club.
