Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed goalkeeper Dean Henderson will captain the side for the remainder of the 2025/26 season, stepping into the leadership role following Marc Guéhi’s recent departure to Manchester City.
The announcement, made ahead of Palace’s Premier League London derby against Chelsea this Sunday, brings stability to the squad after a period of significant transition.
Glasner revealed that midfielders Will Hughes and defender Maxence Lacroix will serve as vice-captains, providing a new leadership structure for the Eagles.
“Dean Henderson will captain the team and Will Hughes and Maxence Lacroix will be his vice-captains,” Glasner stated plainly during his pre-match press conference.
This formal appointment comes after Henderson, 28, had already worn the armband in recent matches, including the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland last weekend and an earlier draw with Brighton when Guéhi was absent through injury.
The decision rewards a player whose vocal leadership and confidence have been defining characteristics throughout his career. Henderson joined Palace from Manchester United in 2023 after a series of notable loan spells at Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest.
Since his arrival, he has become a mainstay, making 93 appearances and keeping 32 clean sheets for the club. His performances have also contributed to his international career, earning three of his four England senior caps while at Selhurst Park.
Henderson’s journey to the Palace captaincy is a testament to a self-belief that has been evident since his early days in professional football. Former colleagues from his first loan spell at Stockport County remember a young goalkeeper who was openly confident about his future.
“He came across as a confident goalkeeper without being arrogant. He fully believed in his own ability,” recalled John Marsden, a forward at Stockport. “From very early on, he was always saying he would one day be Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper”.
That unwavering mentality has followed him throughout his career. Marcus Bignot, his manager during a loan at Grimsby Town, noted his leadership qualities. “He was an absolute pleasure to work with. I loved his personality. He had a lot of leadership qualities… He’s not frightened of telling people what he thinks of himself, but he backs it up”.
Mat Sadler, captain during Henderson’s season at Shrewsbury Town, was equally impressed, stating, “I’ve never quite seen a person have such confidence in their own ability, which was a fantastic trait. He’s got an aura about him, which people gravitate towards”.
Glasner’s captaincy announcement comes amidst a turbulent period for the club. The Austrian manager confirmed last week that he will leave the club when his contract expires this summer. He also expressed strong emotions regarding the timing of Guéhi’s sale, revealing he had agreed to the transfer last February but was frustrated with the execution.
“It’s all about timing and replacement,” Glasner explained. “I know that Crystal Palace will always sell players if they have big offers from other clubs, but it was just the situation, telling the team 28 hours before a Premier League game that the captain is leaving”.
Despite the off-field noise, Glasner reported a positive mood in training this week, buoyed by the return of Daniel Muñoz from injury and Ismaïla Sarr, who is back as an Africa Cup of Nations winner with Senegal. Henderson’s first official match as the confirmed captain will be this Sunday against Chelsea at Selhurst Park.
As a leader, he is known for embracing major challenges. Speaking about a previous big match against Arsenal, he highlighted his mentality: “The reality is, you go to the Emirates and it’s a free hit. We’ve got to go there, play with confidence, enjoy playing there, and see what we can do to cause an upset”.
That same attitude will now be channeled into leading Crystal Palace through a critical period as they seek to climb the Premier League table.