Ex-Celtic man joins Italian side under former Parkhead cult hero
This comes after his departure from Empoli, following their relegation in his second spell with the team.
Sampdoria have the option to extend his contract until 2028 if they wish.
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Henderson will now be playing under ex-Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati, who became the club's manager last month.
The former Celtic player and manager, Donati, had stints at Sambenedettese, Legnago Salus, and Athens Kallithea.
He played 50 times for Celtic, scoring five goals, and had a memorable last-minute goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2007.
Donati returned to Scotland to play for Hamilton Accies and St Mirren before retiring to become a coach at Kilmarnock.
Henderson, a Celtic academy graduate, made 37 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.
He left Celtic in 2018 to join Bari before playing for Hellas Verona, Empoli, Lecce, and Palermo.
His younger brother, Ewan, also played for Celtic, making 12 appearances in all competitions.
He recently joined EFL League One side Wycombe Wanderers.
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Daily Record
23 minutes ago
- Daily Record
James Forrest reveals his Celtic priority and why he won't ever close the door on Scotland
He's won 26 major honours at Parkhead and picked up 39 caps for his country to date James Forrest insists he'll never close the door on playing for Scotland and the chance to fulfil his World Cup dream. Celtic's most decorated servant has done almost all there is to do in the game having lifted an astonishing 26 major honours at Parkhead. Capped 39 times for his country, he was also named in both of Steve Clarke's Scotland squads for the European Championships in 2021 and 2024. One of the few achievements still to be ticked off the 34-year-old's bucket list, however, is a World Cup appearance. Clarke's team will kick off their bid to reach next summer's North American finals when they face both Denmark and Belarus in next month's double header. And while it's now 14 months since his last international appearance, Forrest is refusing to rule out playing a part this time round. He said: "I spoke to Steve Clarke a couple of times at the start of last season but then I got a really bad injury in December which kept me out for a few months. 'But the main thing for me has always been making sure I'm playing well for Celtic and then if Scotland comes along, great. 'But no, I've not spoken to Steve this season. I just want to do well for Celtic in the games coming up and then we'll just kind of see from there. 'When I had the conversation with Steve last year, it was a good one. It was after I'd gone to the Euros and didn't play. He said if he needed me, then he'd give me the call and it was just kind of left like that. 'So as I said, it's always kind of open and I would never shut the door." Next year's World Cup will be the biggest football extravaganza FIFA have ever thrown after expanding the tournament to 48 teams. And Forrest would hate to miss out. "I think as with any player, you want to play in the top competitions,' he said. 'You want to play Champions League, you want to play for your national team. 'Obviously I've done a lot of stuff already in my career. 'But the World Cup is at the end of the season, there's qualifiers and that as well, so I don't want to think too far." But Forrest believes he can still make a major contribution for club and country, even though he's now reached veteran territory. He said: 'The sports scientists, the manager, they look at training every day and see that when I come on at the weekend, I made a contribution. I want to keep performing for Celtic and I think I can keep offering that." Forrest missed out on what would have been a 27th winners' medal in May when Aberdeen crashed the Hoops Treble party to snatch the Scottish Cup. But Forrest insists revenge won't be on his mind as the Premiership and League Cup winners head to Pittodrie this weekend. 'The cup final was hard. I've had a couple of those disappointments at the start of my career but then we went on to have a really good spell. 'It shows you how well all the different teams over the years have done, winning and being so successful. 'But Aberdeen are one of the best teams in Scotland and I think every time you play them, there's a rivalry there anyway. 'You go to Pittodrie and we all know it's a hard game, so I don't think we'll look much into the cup final. 'It's a new season and we want to get off to a good start and just keep the momentum going, and hopefully get another three points."
Scottish Sun
23 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
My winner sparked crazy Celtic scenes when Hoops faced Kazakh side 12 years ago, I'd love to feel that buzz again
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAMES FORREST fondly remembers it as one of his biggest highs. A feeling of pure elation. A buzz he can't get from any other aspect of life. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 5 James Forrest celebrates against Shakhter Karagandy Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow 5 28/08/13 CELTIC V SHAKHTER KARAGANDY-JAMES FOREST SCORES THE WINNER Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow When he scored a last-gasp goal to take Celtic into the Champions League, it felt like he was feeding an ADDICTION. And the wee man, now 34, is desperate for another fix. His winner against Shakhtar Karagandy back in the 2013 play-off was one of the greatest nights of his career. With Kazakhstan opposition in Kairat Almaty potentially standing in the way of Brendan Rodgers' side and a place in the league phase, Forrest would love nothing more than another hit of that same adrenaline rush. The Hoops veteran recalled: 'It was massive. 'The fans that night were really good because we were 2-0 down from the first leg and we came back here. I remember we scored in the first half and the place just erupted. 'That's what will be good when we get our game here as well. 'The fans will push the boys because they want Champions League and everyone involved in the club will want it as well. 'It was amazing when I scored the third goal. The feeling is just hard to describe. 'But I'd say that's why you keep playing. You want more because it's addictive, the feeling you have with the players at moments like that. I'm a Celtic-daft bride – I called off the big day but I still celebrated in my wedding dress at Parkhead 'The buzz you get from it, I don't get it with anything else. It really is addictive. 'I've had so many highs with Celtic. But when you do experience stuff like that, it does make you think, 'I want more of that'. 'You go away for pre-season, you're working five, six weeks, doing double sessions. 'You're playing in games that maybe no one's watching or having training sessions where no one's there. 'But then it all becomes worth it when you get moments like that, 100 per cent.' It's either Kairat or Slovan Bratislava that Celts will have to beat to reach the league phase. Kairat take a 1-0 lead to Bratislava for the second leg of the third qualifying round clash. 5 Celtic manager Neil Lennon (2nd from left) celebrates with his team Credit: Scottish News and Sport But it would be far easier for Rodgers and his squad — logistically at least — if the Slovaks rather than the Kazakhs won through to the play-off. Otherwise, it's an exhausting 7,000-mile round trip to the most eastern point on Uefa's map. Forrest has made that trek a few times with club and county, and knows first hand how tough it can be. He added: 'We've been there three times with Celtic, plus I've been there with Scotland too. 'It is difficult because you probably need to go two days before the game just to adjust because of how far away it is. 'But whatever team we get, it will be two difficult games. "We've got enough experience with international players who know about the travel and stuff like that. 'These away games can be a bit cup style as well. 5 'But then Celtic Park can be really intimidating for the visiting team too. 'I really liked the new format of the Champions League that we had last season. 'So hopefully we can get through the qualifiers, and then look to see who we get in the league phase and where we get to play. 'Every player, coach, fan, they want to be involved in the Champions League, so hopefully we can do that.' Forrest is soaking up every minute of being a Hoops star these days as he appreciates they won't last forever. He maybe doesn't start as many games as he once did. But the winger knows the importance of the job he is often given to finish them. Just like he did when he stepped off the bench to replace Yang Hyun-jun in the opening weekend Premiership win over St Mirren. 5 It is a difficult place to go at the best of times Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Forrest said: 'You want to keep being involved, you want to keep being part of it. 'But I feel as though a couple of years ago when they changed it and you could make five subs, it's just more known that wingers and attackers will change more. 'Having Ange Postecoglou before and the gaffer here as well the first time, they want to keep the same intensity for the full 90 minutes. It is a difficult position and we have got a lot of players who can play there. 'If you look back through the last couple of years, I don't think many players other than Daizen Maeda would play the majority of games and most of the minutes. 'But I feel as though the position has changed loads. 'Ange used to do it quite a lot as well, and the gaffer's changed it a bit here too. 'With five subs, it's been more normal that they want freshness in the legs. 'You're maybe not starting the game, but you're going to be the one that sees it out. 'You've seen it as well, the number of times you can start, play 70 minutes, not have much of the ball, not much of a game. 'Then somebody can come on for 20 minutes and score, then all everyone talks about is the one that's played the 20. I feel as though I've been in both positions. 'Over the season, you want to be a part of both. 'It's good that you have a big squad and the manager can change because we do have a lot of games. 'You want to play as much as you can but I'm getting older as well 'It's good for the coaches that they know they have got players to swap.' Forrest has also revealed he's not given up on his Scotland career, insisting he will always be available to Steve Clarke for a call-up if required. He added: 'I had the conversation with him last year after I went to the Euros and didn't play. 'If he needed me then he'd give me the call and it was just kind of left like that. 'So it's been left open. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
28 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
The moment that keeps Forrest coming back for more at Celtic
The prospect of a 7000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan for a Champions League shootout tie is one that the Celtic players would embrace if it came to it, but as those who remember previous trips to Central Asia will testify, it is one they could also do well without. That being said, there is at least one grizzled veteran of those longest of Celtic away days that has fond memories of facing Kazakh opposition. In fact, James Forrest had one of his most cherished moments in a Celtic jersey in a Champions League qualifier against Shakhter Karagandy, albeit in the home leg at Celtic Park. After a 2-0 defeat on their travels way back in 2013, Forrest struck at the death in Glasgow to earn his side a 3-2 aggregate victory, and send Celtic into the group stage of the competition. (Image: Colin Mearns) The feeling he had that night is one that has never really left him, and even after all these years, it is exactly the sort of moment that keeps the 34-year-old coming back for more. "It's hard to describe,' Forrest said. 'That's why you keep playing, you want more because it's addictive, the feeling you have with the players. 'The buzz you get from it is, I don't get it with anything else, and as I said, it is addictive. 'When you've had so many highs with Celtic as well, it's hard. Sometimes you do that and then two days later you're travelling up and you're playing another game somewhere and you need to get going again. Read more: 'But then I think when you do experience stuff like that, it does make you think, 'I want more of that'. 'You go away pre-season, you're working five, six weeks and double sessions, and at games that maybe no-one's watching or training sessions that no-one's there, but then it all comes worth it when you get moments like that, one hundred percent. 'I always just think, just keep trying to work hard and keep trying to play for as long as I can, as long as I feel good, because I've done this since I was a wee boy. 'So, I just think try and go for it. I've got another year here, and as I said, I'm not even thinking about that now, just enjoying the games. 'It's pressure games every couple of days and it is great to be a part of." If it is to be Almaty – and the Kazakhs hold a 1-0 advantage after hosting Slovan in the first leg of their tie last week – Forrest is well versed on how to handle it. And no matter what, he will be offering no excuses should Celtic fall short of the league phase of the competition. "I think we've maybe been there like three or four times, and I've been there with Scotland as well,' he said. 'It is difficult because you probably need to go two days before the game just to adjust because of how far away it is. 'I think whatever team we get, it will be two difficult games. I think we've got enough experience, we've got a lot of international players, they know about the travel and stuff like that, and these away games can be like cup style in that as well. 'But then, Celtic Park is to be really intimidating for the other team as well. 'The club have got sports scientists, the physios and stuff like that; they've got people that are looking after it to give the boys the best chance. 'As I said, we've done it before, so whatever team we get, there'll be no excuses either way." What may be driving Forrest this weekend is a desire to have a measure of revenge on Aberdeen for the way that last season ended, with the Dons denying Celtic a treble with their penalty shootout victory in the Scottish Cup Final. This though, he says, is a fresh start. 'I think Aberdeen are one of the best teams in Scotland and I think every time you play them, there's a rivalry there anyway,' he said. 'You go to Pittodrie; every year I've been up there, the managers, coaches, fans, they all know it's a hard game, so I don't think we'll look much into the cup final. 'It's a new season and we want to get off to a good start and just keep the momentum going, and hopefully get another three points." In the longer term, as well as hoping to do enough throughout the course of the season to earn another year at the club, Forrest still has an eye on the international scene. (Image: Colin Mearns) The winger was desperately disappointed not to have seen any game time at all last summer during the European Championships, but he isn't closing the door on crowning his career with an appearance at next year's World Cup. "I spoke to Steve Clarke a couple of times at the start of last season, and then I got a really bad injury in December for a few months,' he said. 'The main thing for me has always been making sure I'm playing well for Celtic and then if Scotland came along, great. 'But no, I've not spoken to him this season, so as I said, I just want to do well for Celtic in the games and then we'll just kind of see from there. "I had the conversation with him last year, it was a good one, and because it was after I went to the Euros and didn't play, it was if he needed me, then he'd give me the call and it was just kind of left like that. 'So as I said, it's always kind of open and I would never shut the door. I think any player, you want to play in the top competitions and you want to play Champions League, you want to play for your national team.' *James Forrest was speaking at Celtic's annual 'Touching the Trophies' experience, where season ticket holders with sensory impairments are given the opportunity to come to Celtic Park and physically engage with the club's silverware.
