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John Terry rejected Premier League interest to avoid facing Chelsea, says Swansea City manager Paul Clement

Swansea City manager Paul Clement has revealed how John Terry chose to drop down to the Championship because he couldn't face playing against Chelsea in the Premier League.

Terry, 36, will join Aston Villa ahead of the new season after his contract at Stamford Bridge expired.

The former Chelsea captain was in-demand, with Swansea and Bournemouth among the top-flight clubs to have courted his services this summer, but chose to move down a division.

John Terry will not be a direct competitor of his former club Chelsea by joining Aston Villa
John Terry will not be a direct competitor of his former club Chelsea by joining Aston Villa
Swansea City boss Paul Clement targeted Terry but believed he didn't want to face Chelsea
Swansea City boss Paul Clement targeted Terry but believed he didn't want to face Chelsea

And Clement says the indications he was given were that Terry did not want to face the prospect of playing against the club he spent 22 years with.