Aston Villa Confirm Capture Of John Terry

John Terry made over 700 appearances for Chelsea, captaining them on almost 600 occasions, and won 15 major trophies including five Premier League titles

Former England and Chelsea captain John Terry has signed a one-year deal with Championship club Aston Villa.

Press Association report continues:

The 36-year-old defender ended a 22-year association with the Blues on Friday, making him a free agent on Saturday.

He has now elected to drop down a division and move to the midlands to join Steve Bruce’s Villans.

Centre-back Terry made over 700 appearances for Chelsea, captaining them on almost 600 occasions, and won 15 major trophies including five Premier League titles.

“I am delighted to join Aston Villa,” Terry told Villa’s official website.

“It’s a club I have admired from afar for many years - there are fantastic facilities at Bodymoor Heath, Villa Park is one of the finest stadiums in the country and there’s a good group of players here, with an experienced and successful manager in Steve Bruce.

“I can’t wait to get started now and look to help the squad achieve something special this season.”

Terry, a 78-cap England international, was expected to garner plenty of interest once it was clear he wished to continue playing after his deal with Chelsea was up.

West Brom and Swansea both expressed a desire to keep him in the top flight while Harry Redknapp was keen for him to join Villa’s cross-city rivals Birmingham in the Championship.

Terry brought the curtain down on his Blues career in controversial fashion in May having planned to be substituted in the 26th minute, a nod to his shirt number, against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

It is understood the Football Association is continuing to look into the matter after concern was raised when three punters who wagered a bet on Terry’s specifically-timed substitution were paid out by a bookmaker.

Terry’s move to Villa might seem surprising to some but even more unexpected was the fashion in which the Championship club announced the signing.

Villa produced a viral video to announce the signing, which was based around an imaginary WhatsApp conversation between Bruce, owner Dr Tony Xia and members of the first-team squad.

After Xia teases and confirms the signing, Terry is added to the group before Gabriel Agbonlahor seemingly offends former players such as Olof Mellberg by suggesting Terry must be the best defender the club has ever had.

The video caused a stir online, with one fan, @DomH97, saying: “Why do we have to do everything in such an embarrassing way”.

Another (@latetackle) simply added: “lads we have so many questions”.

However it proved popular with some, with @Ryan_Anacki posting: “This is the GOAT of a signing announcement and it forever will be”, while BBC presenter Dan Walker described it as “brilliant”.