Photo by Alex Livesey - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

John Terry says Chelsea passed on ‘really good’ option

Originally posted on HITC | By Luke Randall | Last updated Feb 7, 2026 10:18 AM ET

While Chelsea are satisfied with how little they did in the January transfer window, not everyone feels the same way.

The long-running Jeremy Jacquet story felt like a bit of a sideshow, dragging on without any real movement. In the end, nothing came of it.

It looks like Liam Rosenior convinced the club to bring back Mamadou Sarr instead, which made more sense financially.

Chelsea will now be counting on players returning from injury to fill gaps. Romeo Lavia is coming back soon, and Dario Essugo is on his way to full fitness in midfield.

In defence, both Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill are still sidelined with injuries.

John Terry praises Aston Villa’s move for Douglas Luiz

Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images

Chelsea had their eyes on Douglas Luiz during the January window, but nothing came of it in the end.

The deal didn’t materialise, and Luiz ended up choosing Aston Villa. Chelsea also decided not to pursue him further.

Speaking on TikTok, John Terry spoke highly of the move for Villa, even mentioning Tammy Abraham’s return to B6 as another boost for Unai Emery.

“Tammy Abraham has come in the building, Douglas Luiz is back in the building, two really good additions to their squad.”

Why Chelsea didn’t need Douglas Luiz

Chelsea’s decision to focus on the development of Andrey Santos and other young players in the squad made more sense than adding another high-profile name to the mix.

There is actually some depth in midfield if you take a closer look. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have formed a solid pairing, and Reece James can also fill in when needed.

Although injuries to Romeo Lavia have been a recurring issue, panic-buying or taking on high-wage loanees like Luiz wouldn’t be a step forward.

And after failing to make an impact in Serie A and being unable to secure a regular starting spot at a struggling Nottingham Forest side, he didn’t represent a clear upgrade.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: