Back to the Chelsea Newsfeed

Phil Thompson reveals John Terry almost signed for LIVERPOOL in 2003 and told Gerard Houllier he'd 'love' to join... before Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and tied the club legend down to new deal

Chelsea legend John Terry almost signed for Liverpool and wanted to join before Roman Abramovich took over the Blues and offered him a money-spinning new deal, Phil Thompson has revealed.

Terry was an auspicious 22-year-old talent coming through Chelsea's ranks in 2003 when the then Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier formulated a plan to pinch him from their rivals,

Chelsea at the time were in a difficult financial position and Terry's contract was due to expire at the end of the 2002-03 season.

John Terry came very close to joining Liverpool in 2003 and said he'd love to sign for them
Liverpool's former boss Gerard Houllier (L) approached Terry at the end of the 2002-03 season

Chelsea played Liverpool in the final game of that campaign and Thompson revealed that Terry had agreed to join them when Houllier approached him at the end of the match.