Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 11:55 / Updated Tuesday, April 14, 2026 11:56
John Terry, former English international and Chelsea legend, is part of a consortium that offered 16 million euros to buy English fourth division club Colchester United. The former footballer decided to enter the ownership structure of the club after giving up the search for a coaching position and would have full decision-making power on the sporting side.
Terry currently works as a mentor to young players at Chelsea's academy.
John Terry close to buying Colchester United, from League 4 of England
According to media in England, quoted by sportal.blic.rs, Terry is expected to have a “significant influence” at the top-ranked Essex club. A source close to the negotiations revealed to the British newspaper that the deal has been in the works for a long time.
Terry would have already visited the Florence Park training center several times, to familiarize himself with the future collaborators. He also has a family connection to the club – his nephew, Frankie Terry, is a footballer for the club, although he is currently on loan at League Five side Braintree Town.
Terry has yet to comment on the news, but Colchester club chairman Robbie Cowling has given the following information:
“Colchester United are currently in detailed negotiations with a consortium regarding a proposed sale of the club. We are unable to comment at this stage.”
Celebrity ownership of football clubs has become a trend, especially after the success of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney with Wrexham. However, making a profit in the fourth English league is no easy task. Last season, all clubs in the English third division made losses, and Colchester's net losses of €4.13 million were among the highest in the league.
The season is virtually over for Colchester. With four rounds to go, the club are in 13th place, nine points off the play-offs and 27 points above the relegation zone. This is their 10th consecutive season in the English fourth division, and last played in the second-tier Championship in the 2007–08 season.
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John Terry played his entire career in England at Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. For the group from Stamford Bridge he has 717 matches, 67 goals and 29 assists. Winning a Champions League, 5 titles, a Europa League trophy, 5 FA Cups and 3 League Cups. He has 78 appearances for England and 6 goals.
John Terry: “When I see the kind of people running the clubs today…”
Terry's expected entry into shareholding comes after he gave up his dream of becoming a professional coach. John Terry has on several occasions expressed his displeasure with how clubs in England are run, particularly because he was not sought after by clubs, not even at League 3 level.
“I'm done with coaching… I'm enjoying life, I'm working in Chelsea's academy. It's a part-time job, I like working with the kids, I like to pass on my knowledge and experience to them. I applied for a few positions and those days are over for me. I wanted it. When I came to Aston Villa, I had a lot of experience under Dean Smith and I got promoted, which was incredible. I felt that my experience as a second manager in the Premier League, along with my experience as a player and the role of captain at Chelsea and England, will be enough to get a job.
I'm not talking about a position in the Premier League or the Championship, but about a position in the third division. I didn't even get a chance. I would have discussions and they would simply tell me that I had no experience. When I see what kind of people are running the clubs today, it honestly confuses me. Am I frustrated? Yes, absolutely, because I have many good qualities to be a really good coach or manager, but unfortunately it didn't happensaid John Terry.
