TheCable

Aston Villa has confirmed the signing of former Chelsea captain John Terry.

Villa fended off competition from rivals Birmingham to secure the services of the former England captain on a one-year deal.

“I am delighted to join Aston Villa,” Terry said in a statement on Aston Villa’s website on Monday.

“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 has admitted the idea of playing against Chelsea in the Premier League was partly behind his decision to join the Championship club side.

“It was 22 years and I am very proud of that, I wish Chelsea well next season but now my thoughts are 100% here. I am delighted to be here as a player.

“It is obviously a huge club, I had a few conversations with Steve [Bruce] over the summer. I am very hungry to still play at the top with a club and a manager who still has the same ambition as me.

“I think the club speaks for itself, from being out there in the stadium [in the past]. They have got great support here, I think it is a club that deserves to be in the Premier League.

“Steve being Steve has persuaded me to come, and I am delighted because I still wanted to keep my playing, my hunger is still there at 36.

“The ambition for me to continue playing some people will understand and some people will not.

“I am in good physical condition. I am ready to play and give it everything this year. I am here, I am ready to fight for the Villa shirt and for this football club.”

Speaking on Terry’s signing, Bruce said the ace defender is “worth every penny”.

“It is not often that you get a natural leader of men these days. I have watched him from afar for a long, long time and to get him here is a great coup for all of us,” he said.

“It is not often that you get a natural leader of men these days. I have watched him from afar for a long, long time and to get him here is a great coup for all of us.”

Terry left Chelsea at the end of last season following two trophy-laden decades at Stamford Bridge.