{"id":423,"date":"2026-08-05T09:13:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=423"},"modified":"2026-08-05T09:13:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:13:12","slug":"jordan-hendersons-and-granit-xhakas-stats-clearly-show-whos-the-better-midfielder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=423","title":{"rendered":"Jordan Henderson’s and Granit Xhaka’s stats clearly show who’s the better midfielder"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Chelsea recently completed the signing of Jordan Henderson, but in an ideal world, Xabi Alonso would have brought in Granit Xhaka.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chelsea were interested in signing Xhaka<\/a> before turning to Henderson<\/a>, with Alonso<\/a> having been keen on a reunion with his former player.<\/p>\n

\n

However, Sunderland\u2019s stance was that the 33-year-old is not for sale and refused to budge.<\/p>\n

Henderson is not a bad alternative. The former Brentford man will add experience and leadership to Chelsea\u2019s squad<\/a>, even more than Xhaka<\/a> would have brought. But in terms of being on the football pitch, how do they compare?<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

How would you feel about this Chelsea team playing in the cup competitions? \ud83c\udfc6<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Chelsea's<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Well, Henderson and Xhaka are quite similar midfielders. Both men want to be on the ball and control the tempo of games.<\/p>\n

Last season, though, Xhaka did that better. For example, according to WhoScored<\/a>, the Sunderland captain had a pass success rate of 83.7%, whereas Henderson had a success rate of 77.9%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Xhaka also averaged more passes per game, completing 53.1. Henderson\u2019s average was 35.2.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Left<\/div>
Photo by Richard Callis\/JustPictures\/LiveMedia\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Defensively, Xhaka made more tackles than Henderson, averaging 1.5 to the Englishman\u2019s 0.8. He made more interceptions, too.<\/p>\n

Going forward, both players scored one goal each in the Premier League<\/a>, but Xhaka also managed to record six assists, three more than what Henderson produced. However, Xhaka did play significantly more minutes.<\/p>\n

When it came to key passes, the Switzerland international made one per game. Henderson\u2019s average was 0.6. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

Who do you prefer, Jordan Henderson or Granit Xhaka?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Split<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Granit Xhaka trumps new Chelsea signing Jordan Henderson<\/h2>\n

Has Henderson had a better career than Xhaka? Easily, he captained Liverpool to the Premier League title and Champions League<\/a> trophy. And in his prime, the England star was arguably a better player than Xhaka.<\/p>\n

However, it is quite clear that Xhaka is currently the superior midfielder, or at least statistically. <\/p>\n

While Alonso will still be pleased with Henderson\u2019s arrival, it is not hard to see why Xhaka was his priority and above the ex-Liverpool captain on Chelsea\u2019s shortlist.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n