Chelsea Announces Captain John Terry will leave at end of Season

Photo credit: Matt King/Getty Images

Chelsea legend John Terry will leave the club at the end of the season, the English Premier League leaders announced on Monday.

John Terry and Chelsea Football Club today jointly announce our captain will leave the club at the end of the season,” said a club statement.

“I’ve always been conscious that I depart at the right time, in the right way, and I feel that the end of this season is the right time for the club and I,” he added.

“I feel I still have plenty to offer on the pitch but understand that opportunities here at Chelsea will be limited for me. I’m eager to carry on playing and so will be looking to continue with a new challenge. I will of course always be a Blue and am desperate to end my final season as a Chelsea player with more silverware

The 36-year-old former England central defender has spent his entire professional career at Stamford Bridge, making over 700 appearances for the west London side. He is ranked third in the all-time list and has also captained Chelsea a record 578 times, scoring 40 Premier League goals in the process. Terry won the Champions League, four Premier League titles, the Europa League, five FA Cups and three League Cups while at Stamford Bridge.

John Terry and Chelsea Football Club today jointly announce our captain will leave the club at the end of the season https://t.co/zQZe6zPLGC

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 17, 2017

Despite being Chelsea’s captain, Terry has become an increasingly peripheral figure under Italian manager Antonio Conte and has made just five league appearances so far this season.

I will decide on my future in due course, but for now I am committed to helping the team achieve success this season,”. After 22 years there is so much to say and so many people to thank at this great football club. From coaches, team-mates and staff to the fans who have given me so much support down the years, I can’t thank you enough.

There will be opportunities for me to speak further about this over the coming weeks.” Terry said