John Terry set to take on completely different challenge with Aston Villa
John Terry is leaving Chelsea at the expiration of his contract. He is reportedly closing in on an Aston Villa deal as he goes from champions to promotion hopefuls.
John Terry is leaving Chelsea this summer, but he is not retiring. The defender still believes that he has a year or so left in the tank and a number of clubs have been linked with him. As it stands, Aston Villa are the favourites for his signature. Such a move will present the former Blues captain with a completely different challenge than he is used to.
The Mirror reports that Terry will close the deal when his contract expires in the coming days.
"John Terry is ready to sign for Aston Villa when his Chelsea contract expires at the weekend…The Villans are out-bidding their Second City rivals Birmingham with a £5million, one-year deal also including huge bonuses if centre-back Terry, 36, helps them win promotion back to the Premier League."
More from The Pride of London
- Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea player ratings: Abysmal, reckless, wasteful
- Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea: 3 Blues talking points
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 1 Blue Mauricio Pochettino should drop
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 3 Blues who must start
- Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Bournemouth: Palmer starts in 4-2-3-1
Terry has spent the entirety of his professional career at Stamford Bridge. Hence, he is spent the entirety of his professional career challenging for trophies at the summit of the game. Now, he will be dropping to the Championship to help a historic club play their way back into the Premier League.
Villa, former European champions, have been on a slippery slope in recent years, culminating in their relegation. However, a new owner and a refreshed attitude sees them optimistic about returning to the big time.
Terry will be a vital part of their efforts as they seek to successfully navigate the notoriously unpredictable and difficult second tier. At the age of 36, Terry will probably not feature every week, but his experience and wisdom will be invaluable to the Villains.
The Championship campaign is a long and tiring one, especially if Villa are to make cup runs (they are certainly capable of doing so). Concentration must be maintained as the games come thick and fast. Steve Bruce will rely on Terry to keep motivation up, in particular through the inevitable rough patches.
This is a markedly different challenge for the Chelsea great. However, it will teach him a lot about himself and perhaps also his potential in a future coaching role.
Next: Radja Nainggolan continues to vex Chelsea’s transfer plans
Terry could have taken lucrative deals and flown out to MLS or the Chinese Super League. He could have also entertained rumoured offers from Premier League clubs such as Bournemouth. For whatever reason he has instead chosen to take on this challenge. How do you think he will fare? Let us know in the comments below!