Chelsea captain John Terry to leave club at end of season
John Terry's time at Stamford Bridge is coming to a close.
The Chelsea captain told reporters his contract with the club won't be renewed and he's departing at the end of the season.
"It's not going to be a fairytale ending, I'm not going to retire at Chelsea," Terry said following a 5-1 win over MK Dons. "I was in last week before the Arsenal game and it's not going to be extended. It's a no at the minute. I needed to know now like I have done every January and sometimes it takes a couple of months to get done.
"Unfortunately it was a no. It took me a couple of days to get over. My performance isn't going to change - the way I train, what I give for the club. I want to give everything and finish on a high, on 100 per cent good terms with the club."
The 35-year old Terry isn't planning to retire yet, though, saying he's looking to play away from England and the Premier League.
"No. I couldn't do that to the Chelsea fans," he replied when asked about a Premier League switch. "I couldn't play for another Premier League club. It will be elsewhere for sure. I don't know where and I leave that to the people in charge. It certainly won't be in the Premier League."
Terry has won four Premier League titles during his time with Chelsea, as well as five FA Cups and three Capital One Cups. He also guided Chelsea to European success in the UEFA Champions League in 2011-12 and a Europa League title in 2013.
(Courtesy: Sky Sports)
The defender has been a mainstay in the Chelsea team for 18 years, and has captained the Blues since 2004, as Jose Mourinho's first skipper. An England international, Terry formed strong partnerships in Chelsea's back four with players like Ricardo Carvalho, David Luiz, and Gary Cahill.
He leaves behind him a legacy as the club's most decorated captain.
"The club will move on," Terry said. "No player is ever bigger than the club. Ideally I would have loved to stay, but the club's moving in a different direction. No doubt they'll sign one or two great centre-backs. I want to come back as a Chelsea supporter in years to come with my kids and see the team doing great. Unfortunately that's not going to be with me, but I want to see the team do well. It's going to be my last year and I want to go out at the top."