There was no shortage of suitors once John Terry revealed that he’d be walking away from Chelsea after almost two decades with the club.
Terry officially signed for Aston Villa on a one-year contract on Monday, having come to terms with the fact that he simply couldn’t play his way into the first team plans of Blues boss Antonio Conte.
After 717 games, five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, a Champions League, a Europa League and three League Cups for the club, Terry will be pulling on a different jersey next season.
The legendary defender has dropped down to the Championship to see out his career but that’s not to say that Terry didn’t have offers from Premier League clubs.
It’s understood that West Brom, Swansea and Bournemouth were hoping to bring the 36-year-on board for some of his matchless top flight experience.
Terry undoubtedly still has the ability to compete in the Premier League so why then would he opt to play in England’s second tier? Swansea manager Paul Clement has the answer.
“My understanding of the situation is that, with John and his relationship with Chelsea, he was going to find it difficult to be a direct competitor of them in the Premier League,” Clement told talkSPORT.
Done deal https://t.co/FRbz0QcZlz
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) July 3, 2017
“John is someone I know very well and have a lot respect for and have a good relationship with. Having known him since he was 16 years old and worked with him as well in the later years when I was an assistant at Chelsea, I understand very well his situation.
“He has made a sensible choice. Aston Villa are a very good club, they have got a good manager, they have got a nice infrastructure there.
“I think he is getting that balance between wanting to continue to play at a good level but at the same time not wanting to pull at his heartstrings really because it was difficult for him leaving Chelsea.”
