‘Chelsea accepted’ – EFL club almost signed John Terry in cut-price deal after ‘miserable afternoon’

John Terry is Chelsea’s most decorated player in history – but his career was almost over before it even got started. The 44-year-old spent 19 years at Stamford Bridge after coming up through the academy – featuring in 717 matches in all competitions. Terry came up through the academy at Stamford Bridge – making his debut in October 1998News Group Newspapers Ltd He impressed during his loan spell at Nottingham Forest, which almost saw him depart on a permanent basisPA Scooping 17 trophies over his glittering career, no player collected as many winners’ medals for the Blues than their legendary ex-captain. His first trophy came in 2000, where he was an unused substitute in the west London outfit’s FA Cup final triumph over Aston Villa. Just two weeks earlier he had been recalled from his short loan spell at Nottingham Forest in his bid to play regular first-team football. Terry made his debut for Chelsea in the 1998/99 term, before being allowed to depart the following term having made just nine appearances. After making the move to Forest in March 2000, the centre-back featured in six games in the second-tier – winning five matches while helping the Reds to three clean sheets. He didn’t just impress on the pitch for Forest, who were managed by ex-Arsenal star David Platt, with his performances in training almost seeing him depart Chelsea on a permanent basis. Steve Bruce – who was in charge of First Division side Huddersfield – was blown away by his talents during a coaching course he was taking at the City Ground. It led to him making a £750,000 offer for the teenage defender later in the summer – which was accepted by Chelsea. Though Terry was reluctant to make the move as he desperately looked to make a future for himself at Stamford Bridge. Recalling how the Terriers almost pulled off the sensational transfer, Bruce said in 2010: “I went to do my FA coaching badges at Forest. Chelsea were willing to sell Terry to Huddersfield in 2000 for a fee of £750kNews Group Newspapers Ltd “David Platt was Forest’s manager at the time and he invited me and Gianluca Vialli up there. “It was a cold miserable afternoon and I saw John Terry in his short sleeves rolling his shirt up – he was on loan there. “I thought, ‘Christ, he’ll do me at Huddersfield. I like him.’ “I bid £750,000 for him, it was a lot of money for me then, and Chelsea accepted it. “But the boy didn’t want to leave Stamford Bridge at the time. I was close, but at the death he didn’t want to go.“ Bruce added: “He’s everything you’d want in a central defender, he’s a born leader. Only Ron Harris [795] and Peter Bonetti [729] have played more games for Chelsea than Terry John Terry Chelsea honours Premier League x5 – 2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2014/15, 2016/17 FA Cup x5 – 1999/00, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12 League Cup x3 – 2004/05, 2006/07, 2014/15 Champions League x1 – 2011/12 Europa League x1 – 2012/13 Community Shield x2 – 2005, 2009 “He was only a boy then but, on a cold day at Nottingham Forest, he was just like, ‘Bring it on,’ he was fantastic.” While Chelsea accepted the offer, Terry claimed that then-manager Gianluca Vialli, who played alongside him in the 1998/99 season, stepped in to block the transfer. Giving his say on the saga when speaking to snooker legend Stephen Henry in an Instagram Q&A in 2020, Terry said: “During my time [at Chelsea] the only two clubs that approached me were [firstly] Huddersfield when I first came through. “Steve Bruce was manager of Huddersfield. “Chelsea accepted a bid and Vialli said no, which obviously I’m very thankful to Luca for. He gave me my debut – great man, great manager.” He continued: “Then obviously the Man City one. Man City approached Chelsea [in 2009], made an offer official. Bruce would eventually sign Terry for Aston Villa in 2017 – 17 years after almost landing himGetty “Simple as this, I sat with the owner, face-to-face and said, ‘I never want to leave Chelsea, that’s a fact. “‘If you want to sell me then it’s a different story, I clearly don’t want to stay. But I’m telling you off the bat that I never want to leave this football club.'” As fate would have it, Bruce would eventually sign Terry – bringing him to Aston Villa in 2017 on a free transfer following his release at Chelsea. But had he got his way 17 years earlier, Terry may not have become the household name he is today.

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‘Chelsea accepted’ – EFL club almost signed John Terry in cut-price deal after ‘miserable afternoon’

John Terry is Chelsea’s most decorated player in history – but his career was almost over before it even got started.

The 44-year-old spent 19 years at Stamford Bridge after coming up through the academy – featuring in 717 matches in all competitions.

Terry came up through the academy at Stamford Bridge – making his debut in October 1998

He impressed during his loan spell at Nottingham Forest, which almost saw him depart on a permanent basis

Scooping 17 trophies over his glittering career, no player collected as many winners’ medals for the Blues than their legendary ex-captain.

His first trophy came in 2000, where he was an unused substitute in the west London outfit’s FA Cup final triumph over Aston Villa.

Just two weeks earlier he had been recalled from his short loan spell at Nottingham Forest in his bid to play regular first-team football.

Terry made his debut for Chelsea in the 1998/99 term, before being allowed to depart the following term having made just nine appearances.

After making the move to Forest in March 2000, the centre-back featured in six games in the second-tier – winning five matches while helping the Reds to three clean sheets.

He didn’t just impress on the pitch for Forest, who were managed by ex-Arsenal star David Platt, with his performances in training almost seeing him depart Chelsea on a permanent basis.

Steve Bruce – who was in charge of First Division side Huddersfield – was blown away by his talents during a coaching course he was taking at the City Ground.

It led to him making a £750,000 offer for the teenage defender later in the summer – which was accepted by Chelsea.

Though Terry was reluctant to make the move as he desperately looked to make a future for himself at Stamford Bridge.

Recalling how the Terriers almost pulled off the sensational transfer, Bruce said in 2010: “I went to do my FA coaching badges at Forest.

Chelsea were willing to sell Terry to Huddersfield in 2000 for a fee of £750k

“David Platt was Forest’s manager at the time and he invited me and Gianluca Vialli up there.

“It was a cold miserable afternoon and I saw John Terry in his short sleeves rolling his shirt up – he was on loan there.

“I thought, ‘Christ, he’ll do me at Huddersfield. I like him.’

“I bid £750,000 for him, it was a lot of money for me then, and Chelsea accepted it.

“But the boy didn’t want to leave Stamford Bridge at the time. I was close, but at the death he didn’t want to go.“

Bruce added: “He’s everything you’d want in a central defender, he’s a born leader.

Only Ron Harris [795] and Peter Bonetti [729] have played more games for Chelsea than Terry

John Terry Chelsea honours

Premier League x5 – 2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2014/15, 2016/17
FA Cup x5 – 1999/00, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12
League Cup x3 – 2004/05, 2006/07, 2014/15
Champions League x1 – 2011/12
Europa League x1 – 2012/13
Community Shield x2 – 2005, 2009

“He was only a boy then but, on a cold day at Nottingham Forest, he was just like, ‘Bring it on,’ he was fantastic.”

While Chelsea accepted the offer, Terry claimed that then-manager Gianluca Vialli, who played alongside him in the 1998/99 season, stepped in to block the transfer.

Giving his say on the saga when speaking to snooker legend Stephen Henry in an Instagram Q&A in 2020, Terry said: “During my time [at Chelsea] the only two clubs that approached me were [firstly] Huddersfield when I first came through.

“Steve Bruce was manager of Huddersfield.

“Chelsea accepted a bid and Vialli said no, which obviously I’m very thankful to Luca for. He gave me my debut – great man, great manager.”

He continued: “Then obviously the Man City one. Man City approached Chelsea [in 2009], made an offer official.

Bruce would eventually sign Terry for Aston Villa in 2017 – 17 years after almost landing him

“Simple as this, I sat with the owner, face-to-face and said, ‘I never want to leave Chelsea, that’s a fact.

“‘If you want to sell me then it’s a different story, I clearly don’t want to stay. But I’m telling you off the bat that I never want to leave this football club.'”

As fate would have it, Bruce would eventually sign Terry – bringing him to Aston Villa in 2017 on a free transfer following his release at Chelsea.

But had he got his way 17 years earlier, Terry may not have become the household name he is today.