Here we are – this is not fantasy: Chelsea F.C. legend John Terry is set to join Aston Villa on a one-year, £5 million wage deal. Terry becomes Steve Bruce’s first summer signing as he seeks to improve a top-five defense into an impenetrable steel wall.
The year is 2017 and John Terry will be an Aston Villa footballer.
How about that? In terms of overall quality, this signing is a massive hit for the claret and blue. Terry brings comfort on the ball, unmatched defensive technique, and aerial dominance to set pieces. Everything is there for he and captain James Chester to form an uberly dominant defensive pair at the center back position. Moreover, it allows Steve Bruce to entertain the possibility of a 5-3-2 with three keenly unique central defenders: Baker on the left, Terry down the middle, and Chester on the right (where he plays for Wales).
This deal is not without risks, however. With high wages, the summer budget just shrunk ever more so. Let’s not disillusion ourselves, either. John Terry is a 36-year old center back who played sparingly under Antonio Conte’s revamped Chelsea squad. He turns 37 in December, where the intersection of age and Championship rigors may affect him.
It’s smart to assume he will not be able to start every weekday match with two days’ rest. Therefore, the need for James Chester, Nathan Baker, and Tommy Elphick remains important.
Commercially, this deal should be a success as well. Dr. Tony Xia is pressing closer to a goal of 30,000 season tickets sold before August. Terry will sell more tickets, sell more shirts, and bring an increased business interest at Aston Villa.
Next: Aston Villa targeting Joe Ledley
How could Steve Bruce line-up Aston Villa on opening day? Here’s two alternatives, granted Sam Johnstone re-ups with the club.
3-1-4-2: Johnstone; Baker, Terry, Chester (c); Jedinak; Taylor, Hourihane, Lansbury, Bree; Grealish, Hogan.
4-3-3: Johnstone; Taylor, Chester (c), Terry, Bree; Jedinak, Lansbury, Hourihane; Green, Hogan, Adomah.