Liam Henderson has joined his sixth Italian team since leaving Scotland, completing a move to Sampdoria and carrying on his remarkable calcio journey. The 29-year-old midfielder is about to kick off his eighth full season in Italy after blazing a trail when he joined Bari in 2018.

Leader of the Scottish Invasion

Who would have thought that Lewis Ferguson would captain Bologna, Che Adams would bang in goals for Torino or Scott McTominay would channel his inner Diego Maradona to lead Napoli to a fourth Serie A title?

The Scottish invasion of Italy is not breaking news anymore. It has become a movement, a right of passage. A footballing pilgrimage for those searching for the right career path. It is not for the faint-hearted though and a new style of play, language and culture comes with challenges.

In January of 2018 Henderson became the first Scottish player to move to Italy for over 30 years. Many have arrived since, but at that point Henderson’s route had not been trodden since the days of Graeme Souness and Joe Jordan in the 1980s.

This latest transfer feels like a full circle moment for both fitba-calcio and Sampdoria-Scottish relations. Rangers legend Souness left the club in 1986 – Henderson has signed for Samp in 2025, and he will play under former Celtic hero Massimo Donati. It is a romantic move for a player who has previously spoken about his love for the the Italian game.

Josh Doig, Aaron Hickey, Billy Gilmour… The connection is strong and Scots have done so much more than just make up the numbers in Italy, but maybe none of these players would have arrived without Henderson’s brave move paving the way.

From the Bench to Bari 

Henderson came through the ranks at Celtic, flirted with first-team football but failed to make a real impact at the top level with the Hoops, playing just once in six months before he moved to Italy. He also went on loan to Rosenberg in Norway and Hibs before an offer from Bari, then in Serie B, came in.

“It’s the second best league in the world. In Italy you can find genuine football,” Henderson said in a 2023 interview with Nutmeg Magazine. He took a gamble moving to Italy of course, but at the time he was short of options. The risk has paid off, and this coming season Henderson will likely get close to his 300th appearance in his home from home. “Italy has a sort of old-school football, and I like it.”

He played over 100 matches for Empoli, where he was a regular starter in Serie A and run to the Coppa Italia semi-final last season. He has also enjoyed shorter spells with Hellas Verona, Lecce and Palermo. Sampdoria is the perfect stage for the next part of his calcio adventure.

Samp secured a great escape last season when Brescia’s financial collapse earned them the lifeline of a Serie B relegation play-off against Salernitana. The Genovese side won the two-legged tie and have made a host of signings, including Henderson, to ensure they are fighting higher up the Serie B table next season.

Their large fanbase demands it, but it is a great challenge for Henderson, and one where success would taste even sweeter. Might he even dream of leading the club back to Serie A?

Journey of a Lifetime

When Henderon arrived in Italy he was greeted by Fabio Grosso. The World Cup winner was his first manager when he landed in the south and Henderson has said Grosso and other Italian coaches have inspired him to pursue a career in management when he retires.

Aside from the Italian football connections, Henderson and his family have also been able to enjoy life in a foreign country, with considerably better weather than Scotland. He has lived across the country, from the north, to Tuscany and on down to Sicily.

“I feel at home,” Henderson commented in his interview with Nutmeg. “Italians are like Scotsmen, they are very sociable and warm-heated. I have changed a lot since I first arrived here, I feel 40% Italian. I don’t put pasta and chicken in the same dish anymore and I only drink cappuccino in the morning.”

Henderson is about to pull on one of the most iconic jerseys in football and enjoy another two years of calcio. He has worked under World Cup winners, received the love of adoring fans and indulged in years of Italian sunshine and cuisine.

On Sampdoria’s social media channels the 29-year-old, who has agreed a deal until 2027, told fans: “I’m proud to be here. Go Doria.”

It has been an incredible journey… but is the greatest chapter in this Italian job yet to come?