JOHN TERRY said yesterday it would have been “too much” to face Chelsea with a Premier League rival after he signed for Championship club Aston Villa.

The 36-year-old former England and Blues captain penned a one-year deal with Steve Bruce’s Villa after ending 22 years at Chelsea, where he won 15 major trophies including five Premier League titles.

Terry, who made 78 international appearances, had offers to remain in the top flight but said he did not wish to come up against his longtime employers.

“I thank them for their offers — for me it was just the mental side of playing against Chelsea was too much to get over,” he said during a press conference at Villa Park.

“I had 22 years at the football club, 22 unbelievable years. I’m very proud of that but this is a new chapter in my life and my career.

“I wish Chelsea well next season and will be watching out but my thoughts are 100 per cent here and the ambition is to get us back to the Premier League.”

Villa are targeting promotion back to the top flight after their relegation in 2016, meaning they could be in the same division as Chelsea for the 2017-18 season.

Asked about the prospect of that scenario, a smiling Terry added: “That’s the ideal situation.

“If, in a year’s time, we’re sitting here and Aston Villa are playing in the Premier League then I’ve done my job and everyone else has done theirs.

“We can cross that bridge, hopefully, when we come to it. First and foremost we’ve got a big and important year ahead of us.”

Terry also confirmed that there would be no coaching role for him at his new club, though he has ambitions to coach one day and sees Villa’s staff as ideal mentors.

“It’s solely playing,” he said. “But obviously I’m looking to learn from the likes of Steve [Bruce] and [Villa’s director of football] Steve Round, who I’ve played under at England.

“There’s a lot of factors to hopefully serve me well in the future. I can’t continue playing forever but whilst I’m in good physical condition I still want to continue playing.”