John Terry leaves Villa after playoff final defeat

Former England captain John Terry said Thursday he was leaving Aston Villa and admitted he was “still hurting” after failing to help the Championship club reach the Premier League.

The former Chelsea defender came to the former European champions on a one-year deal in July and made 35 league appearances, the last coming in Saturday’s playoff final defeat to Fulham at Wembley.

Terry, 37, wrote on his Instagram page, “Today I part ways with Aston Villa Football Club. I’m very proud to have had the opportunity to play and captain this great and huge club.

“I have given my everything this year both on and off the pitch and I’m still hurting today that we never managed to get back to the Premier League, where this club 100 percent belongs.”

A club statement thanked Terry for his “effort and professionalism” and added, “John is a true leader and was everything and more that we hoped.

“Hugely popular and influential in the dressing room, he played a real captain’s role in creating the incredible bond the players shared with our supporters, and vice versa. We hope he looks back on his time with Villa fondly and we wish him the very best as his career moves forward.”

Terry’s signing for Villa came as a surprise to many last summer. After 22 years at Chelsea, he joined the Championship side, saying that part of his motivation was not wanting to play against his former club.