Sports
John Terry Urges Chelsea to Sign Thiago Silva to Sort Out Defence
John Terry, by virtue of playing for the west Londoners on 717 occasions between 1998 and 2017, has Chelsea coursing through his veins and he recently took to social media to implore boss Enzo Maresca to sign a player who is currently looking for a new club in Europe. The Blues, currently fourth in the table, may enter the January transfer market with additions in mind.
After winning the Europa Conference League last season and the Club World Cup in the summer, Chelsea entered the 2025/26 campaign with the hopes of adding more silverware to their bloated trophy cabinet – but their recent form, evidenced by them picking up one win in their last five meetings, could prevent them from doing so.
Given that Levi Colwill is out nursing an ACL injury, Chelsea are somewhat shortchanged in the centre-back department and the January transfer market is always tricky to navigate given clubs are less likely to allow their crucial players to leave. Terry, however, believes he has found a loophole by suggesting that a current free agent could be the answer to their problems.
Chelsea’s Greatest Ever 11 Selected by John Terry
Terry missed out Robben and Carvalho when naming his best-ever Chelsea XI.
Terry Implores Enzo Maresca To Sign ‘Unbelievable’ Player for Chelsea
Ahead of Chelsea’s League Cup fixture against Cardiff City, Terry took to social media to suggest that his former side have one of the easier draws on offer – but he did offer a gracious nod to the fact they are at the top of England’s third tier at the time of recording. He also mentioned that Thiago Silva‘s free agency should be eyed by Maresca and company.
Now 41 years of age, the Brazil international’s plan is to move back to Europe – and Chelsea could use their pre-existing relationship, given that he played for the capital club between 2020 and 2024 and even marshalled their defence to a Champions League crown, to their advantage.
Revealing all about his future plans, Fabrizio Romano wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Thiago Silva’s clear plan: move to Europe next as free agent, ahead of any other option in Middle East or MLS. He wants to get closer to his family and Europe is the clear priority. Deal on.”
On a potential return to the club, Terry – after his Cardiff City spiel – said: “Also, I’d just like to add that Thiago Silva is available. Now, listen to me, [he’s] a man with great experience, a man with a great relationship with our football club and his two kids are in our academy. No doubt he’s going to be back in London, over here with his family for Christmas.
“I would love to see this man back at our football club playing alongside these players. Now, I’m not saying he has to play every week, but just the experience he can bring, playing alongside someone like that, [it] probably goes back to my role under Antonio Conte in 2017, when we won the league.”
|
Thiago Silva – Career Statistics |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Club/Country |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Paris Saint-Germain |
315 |
17 |
7 |
|
Fluminense |
185 |
18 |
5 |
|
Chelsea |
155 |
9 |
5 |
|
AC Milan |
119 |
6 |
2 |
|
Brazil |
113 |
7 |
4 |
|
Esporte Clube Juventude |
29 |
3 |
0 |
Terry then delved into more detail about the role Silva could play in the current Chelsea set-up under Maresca. “I didn’t play, but I had a role to play within the group, [to be] that buffer between the players, the manager, the owners and have that bit of experience, sometimes when you’re going through a tough spell or when you’re going through a good spell as well.”
“You know what to say, what to deliver, and he certainly brings that as well. So, Thiago Silva back to Chelsea would make everyone very, very happy – me included in that,” he added. “Who knows, but I’m just throwing it out there. Thiago, we love you!”
This is not the first time that Stamford Bridge royalty Terry has detailed his love for the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain defender. When asked about his thoughts on Silva on Instagram, he said: “Absolutely love him,” the 45-year-old wrote. To be playing so well at his age in the best league is unbelievable. Just wish I could have played alongside him.”
Is A Chelsea Move for Thiago Silva Realistic?
Could the combination of Terry’s admission of admiration and Silva’s preference to return to Europe open a deal for the latter to join his former side? Perhaps. What Silva, widely regarded as one of the best South Americans to ever play for Chelsea, would offer a relatively inexperienced centre-back department is a sense of competency and reliability.
With Colwill currently injured, Chelsea’s central defensive partnerships are lacking in expertise and know-how and that could, quite easily, cost them a spot in next season’s Champions League. That said, it must be important to note that Silva has also been linked with a return to AC Milan.
Thiago Silva Named his 10 Toughest Opponents and Chose Between Messi and Ronaldo
Silva gave great reasons for each of his selections.
Now the wrong side of 40 yet showing very few signs of slowing down, Silva’s career will be looked back on fondly by the respective fans of Chelsea, AC Milan and PSG – but where he will spend the twilight period of his playing days remains to be seen. The Blues could be in the driving seat, though, given his son, Iago, is currently impressing in the youth ranks.
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 16/12/2025
