Aston Villa owner Tony Xia has mocked the club’s staunch rivals Birmingham City after signing John Terry, with the two Birmingham clubs having butted heads in order to secure the talents of the former Chelsea and England captain.
Villa fought off the Blues in order to sign the 36-year-old, who had also been linked to the bank-rolling Chinese Super League and the MLS, announcing earlier today that the defender would join their Championship squad, hoping to lift them into the Premier League once again after a dismal few years. Ever the controversial figure, Tony Xia weighed in with his thoughts on the signing on Twitter, writing: “Welcome JT to Birmingham city…Aston Villa!”
???????Welcome JT to Birmingham city…Aston Villa?!#UTV! @AVFCOfficial Announcement shortly!
— Dr. Tony Xia (@Dr_TonyXia) July 3, 2017
Manager Steve Bruce led Villa to a spot below the middle of the table last year, with them finishing in 13th in the Championship. However, they are now among the favourites to take the top spot next season, and to return to the Premier League in the process.
Terry was a talisman for both Chelsea and the England national team, playing 717 games for his former club and earning 78 caps for his country. He lifted his fifth Premier League trophy in May before departing his longtime club. One of the more polarizing figures in Premier League history, Terry’s method of saying goodbye to the fans was suitably divisive, with him requesting to be substituted in the 26th minute of his final match by manager Antonio Conte, the number of his shirt. His teammates staged a mid-game “guard of honour” as he left the pitch.
