Former Chelsea captain John Terry (Picture: Getty)
John Terry has been impressed by Xabi Alonso’s start at Chelsea as he praised the club for changing their transfer model this summer.
Alonso took over at Stamford Bridge this summer and has plenty to improve after the Blues’ dismal tenth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
The Spaniard has received the club’s backing in his first transfer market, with Morgan Rogers arriving from Aston Villa for a record £117million fee along with Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Valentin Barco and Pep Chavarria.
And Chelsea have also looked to address their lack of experience within the squad by signing Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck from Brentford and Brighton, respectively.
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Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist has already tipped the Blues as his dark horses for this upcoming season, and Terry claims Chelsea’s players are similarly enthused by what they have experienced so far with Alonso.
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‘Really like him, loved him as a player,’ Terry said in a video on TikTok. ‘I met him very recently as well at the training ground and got a great feeling from him.
‘Just having conversations with the boys as well – I know it’s early days – but the boys are speaking really positive of him and the sessions that he’s doing.
HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 4: Head Coach Xabi Alonso of Chelsea FC gestures during the Chelsea FC Training Session at the Kai Tak Stadium on August 4, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 4: Head Coach Xabi Alonso of Chelsea FC gestures during the Chelsea FC Training Session at the Kai Tak Stadium on August 4, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
‘Also have to say that in terms of the market and where Chelsea are at the minute, I do think he’s the best that we could have got. I think he’s a great signing.
‘To have someone so young, ambitious, who’s also going to relate with the players, I think is the big key to this.’
After several transfer windows with a youth-focused recruitment policy, Chelsea’s owners have changed tack and shown an increased willingness to recruit ready-made players for their first-team squad.
HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 05: Danny Welbeck of Chelsea gives a thumbs up during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Chelsea and Juventus at Kai Tak Sports Park on August 05, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 05: Danny Welbeck of Chelsea gives a thumbs up during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Chelsea and Juventus at Kai Tak Sports Park on August 05, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
The arrival of Premier League veterans Welbeck and Henderson typifies that approach, and Terry believes both players can play a crucial role for Alonso this season.
‘It feels like the last couple of years we’ve missed a little bit of experience and we’ve certainly got that in the building now,’ he added.
‘So, Danny Welbeck coming in, Jordan Henderson, Lacroix at the back as well. I think they’re going to be really important players and also tone setters around the place, players with big standards that have played at the very top.
‘Welbeck is a great signing for me. Jordan Henderson, I spoke about it in the World Cup, he’s still a top player, still got so much to give and will help and guide these players.
‘I think we’re all in agreement that we’ve got so many good young players around the place and we’ve been crying out for experience.
‘So, we’ve not only got that in the manager, but three or four really good experienced players now.’
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Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Roberto De Zerbi takes part in a press conference after a training session at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on July 31, 2026, ahead of a pre-season friendly against Chelsea. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP via Getty Images) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --
Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Roberto De Zerbi takes part in a press conference after a training session at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on July 31, 2026, ahead of a pre-season friendly against Chelsea. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP via Getty Images) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --