John Terry closes in on shock club ownership

April 14, 2026 Oliver Obel

Former Chelsea captain John Terry is nearing a deal to invest in League Two side Colchester United, in what would mark his first major step into football ownership.

The proposed £14 million agreement, first reported by The Sun, would see Terry join a consortium aiming to take control of the Essex club and potentially reshape its long-term direction.

The move reflects a growing trend of high-profile figures backing lower-league teams, with increased attention and investment flowing into English football’s lower tiers in recent years.

Terry, 45, is best known for his decorated playing career at Chelsea, where he made 717 appearances between 1998 and 2017. During that period, he won 15 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2012.

Since retiring in 2018, he has focused on coaching. He worked as assistant manager to Dean Smith at Aston Villa from 2018 to 2021 and briefly reunited with Smith at Leicester City in 2023. Later that year, he returned to Chelsea in a youth development role.

Now, he appears set to transition into club ownership.

A source told The Sun: “JT is really excited for it to become official. This has been a long time in the making.”

The source added that Terry is “a hugely passionate advocate of lower-league football” and believes clubs like Colchester deserve greater visibility and support.

They also said his involvement has generated enthusiasm within the squad, adding: “The lads at Colchester are absolutely buzzing that he’s getting involved.”

Colchester United currently sit 13th in League Two and are preparing for their upcoming fixture against Accrington Stanley. The club has not won a major trophy since lifting the FA Trophy in 1992.

Previous investment interest in the club has not materialised. According to the Colchester Gazette, former Brazil international Alexandre Pato held discussions about a potential involvement earlier this year, though that effort ultimately fell through.

If completed, Terry’s move would place him among a number of prominent figures investing in lower-league football, a shift that has brought increased attention and commercial opportunities to clubs outside the top divisions.

Sources: The Sun, Colchester Gazette