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.
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.
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
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has named the world’s five best footballers right now following France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe scored another brace and moves level with Argentina’sLionel Messi on six goals in the race for the Golden Boot. The Real Madrid superstar now has 18 World Cup goals to his name. Only Messi (19) has more World Cup goals in the tournament’s history.
Bradley Barcola scored France’s other goal. Meanwhile, Michael Olise bagged two assists, and Ousmane Dembele set up Mbappe’s opener.
France are unquestionably the World Cup’s standout team so far and will be the red-hot favourites heading into Saturday’s last 16 tie against Paraguay at the Philadelphia Stadium.
Win that and they’ll then face either Canada or Morocco in the quarter-finals before a potential semi-final against Portugal, Spain, United States or Belgium depending on how results unfold in the previous two rounds.
Opta’s Supercomputer claims Lionel Messi’s Argentina have a stronger chance than England
REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Ibrahimovic, the legendary retired Swedish striker who has impressed in his role as a pundit for FOX Sports at this summer’s World Cup, believes three members of the France squad are among the five best players in world football as things stand.
“Take the five best players in the world, three of them are in [France’s] attack: Dembele, Olise and Mbappe.”
He explained that Messi doesn’t make his top five because the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is in a league of his own, and instead opted for two younger superstars.
Zlatan added: “[Lamine] Yamal and [Erling] Haaland, I would say, because Messi is in his own class… but three of the top five are in [France’s] attack. It’s not easy to make that combination. We have an example when PSG had Mbappe, Messi and Neymar. It was not working 100 per cent.
“But with France, they don’t have this ego, who will be the one. They also do their jobs off the ball, which is more important than on the ball because we know what they can do on the ball. They can decide the game by themselves – all of them. So, it’s scary.”
Rangers look set to complete a hijack after agreeing a deal to beat Southampton to a new signing, according to reports.
The Glasgow club are preparing to enter a new era after appointing former Hearts manager Derek McInnes as their new boss. He replaces Danny Rohl, who made the move to RB Salzburg.
It was a dismal end to the 25-26 season for Rangers, comfortably missing out on the Scottish Premiership title to rivals Celtic.
As a result, they will be looking to bring in reinforcements during the summer transfer window, likely aiming to strengthen in various areas of the pitch.
It could be a busy few weeks and months for Rangers as they look to back new manager McInnes in the transfer market.
According to both Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie and GIVEMESPORT correspondent Ben Jacobs, Rangers have agreed a deal to sign former Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.
Jacobs confirms that Neil is expected to join Rangers as a free agent with an agreement in place and close to being formalised.
Downie confirms that Neil was in talks with Southampton and looked to have opted to join the Championship club, but things have changed significantly over the last 48 hours as Rangers swooped in.
Neil has been having a medical over the last 24 hours at Ibrox, and a deal is expected to be confirmed soon.
Rangers completed the signing of Ivor Pandur from Hull earlier this week in a deal worth £6m, so they are clearly making moves in the transfer market.
Arsenal are showing interest in signing another French star alongside Bradley Barcola of PSG, according to BBC reporter Sami Mokbel.
The Gunners haven’t rushed into any big signings so far in the summer transfer window, which is no surprise after they lifted the Premier League title last season.
The likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool are all working on multiple deals at a time, but Arsenal can afford to sit back and wait.
The Gunners won’t want to rest on what they built last year, especially considering they lost in the Champions League final against PSG.
There’s no doubt Mikel Arteta will be looking to improve his squad in the summer transfer window, but there’s no need for them to panic after their 25-26 campaign success.
Arsenal are potentially in the market for a second-choice goalkeeper with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s future uncertain.
The former Chelsea goalkeeper might be considering heading through the exit door in the coming months in order to go and play more regular first-team football.
