Veteran defender rejected Premier League clubs to avoid facing Chelsea

Terry ended his 22-year-stay at Chelsea this summer and was on Monday, July 3 unveiled as an Aston Villa player.

The defender had offers from several Premier League sides including Swansea where manager Paul Clement wanted to sign Terry who he has a relationship with from their Chelsea days.

It was Clement who revealed that Terry chose not to join any Premier League club so he doesn't have to face Chelsea.

''My understanding of the situation is that, with John and his relationship with Chelsea, he was going to find it difficult to be a direct competitor of them in the Premier League,'' Clement told .

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''John is someone I know very well and have a lot respect for and have a good relationship with. #

''Having known him since he was 16 years old and worked with him as well in the later years when I was an assistant at Chelsea, I understand very well his situation.

''He has made a sensible choice. Aston Villa are a very good club, they have got a good manager, they have got a nice infrastructure there.

'I think he is getting that balance between wanting to continue to play at a good level but at the same time not wanting to pull at his heartstrings really because it was difficult for him leaving Chelsea.''

Aston Villa are currently competing in the second-tier of English football, so Terry is unlikely to face Chelsea unless Aston Villa are paired with Chelsea in the FA and/or Capital One Cup.