Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has revealed that Chelsea rejected his attempt to sign a teenage John Terry shortly after he took control at Selhurst Park.
Jordan bought Palace in 2000 and quickly identified Terry as a possible addition following the defender’s loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
The future Chelsea captain had made only 16 senior appearances for the Blues at that stage. However, his performances during six outings for Forest convinced Jordan that Palace should make an approach.
Bates rejected Palace approach immediately
Jordan told talkSPORT that he contacted Chelsea chairman Ken Bates about taking Terry on loan. Bates dismissed the request in typically direct fashion and told his Palace counterpart that the defender would not leave Stamford Bridge.
“I tried to take John Terry on loan,” Jordan said. “A very young John Terry. And I got told to ‘F off and grow up, don’t waste his time’.”
Jordan previously discussed the approach with Terry during an interview in 2024. He recalled Bates describing the youngster as a top player who would not join Palace.
Chelsea’s judgement proved correct. Terry established himself in their first team during the following season and became permanent captain in 2004.
He eventually made 717 appearances for the club, scoring 67 goals and winning 17 major honours. His achievements placed him among the most successful defenders in Premier League history.
The story also shows the ambition Jordan brought to Palace during the early years of his ownership. His time at Selhurst Park featured several bold appointments and transfer decisions, with ReadCrystalPalace recently looking back at some of the major managerial figures from that period.
Palace never came close to completing the move, but Jordan had correctly recognised Terry’s potential before he became a regular at Chelsea.
