John Terry joins Aston Villa, avoiding Chelsea clash

The 36-year-old centre-back signed a one-year contract with the English Premier League side.

Terry was unveiled in an Aston Villa shirt at a press conference on the evening of July 3. The two sides signed a one-year contract and did not pay a transfer fee.

After the 2016-2017 season, Terry's contract with Chelsea ended. The 36-year-old midfielder did not want to retire and decided to choose a fellow countryman to prolong his career.

Terry accepted to play in a league with a lower level than the Premier League.

Many Premier League teams also tried to recruit Terry but were unsuccessful. The former Stamford Bridge captain chose Aston Villa and the First Division because he did not want to face the team he had been with for 22 consecutive years.

"Facing Chelsea is too much for me. I have spent 22 years with Chelsea and am very proud of that. Now I will enter a new phase in my life and career," Terry said.

Aston Villa left the Premier League at the end of the 2015-2016 season. It was also the first time the team had been relegated since 1987.

In the 2016-2017 season, Aston Villa only ranked 13th in the First Division. The tournament only has two direct tickets to the Premier League for the top two teams. The four teams from third to sixth positions have to play-off to compete for the only remaining ticket.

According to VNE