John Terry pens emotional open letter to Chelsea fans as he prepares to say goodbye after 22 years

Terry and the club announced the move on Monday which sees the 36-year-old walk away after a glittering career at Stamford Bridge

John Terry will leave Chelsea after 22 years this summer (Getty)

John Terry has penned an emotional open letter to Chelsea fans as he prepares to leave the club after 22 years.

Terry and the club announced the move on Monday which sees the 36-year-old walk away after a glittering career at Stamford Bridge including 14 trophies.

And as he prepares to say his farewells he took the time out to send a message to Blues fans.

"It’s with overwhelming emotion that earlier this week the club and I announced this will be my last season as a Chelsea player," he said in a statement on Chelsea's official website.

"This has been the toughest decision of my life for me and my family​, but I always envisaged leaving on the right terms, in the right way and at the right time - and that is now.

"I feel I still have regular football in me but understand that opportunities here at Chelsea will be limited, it is therefore time for a new challenge.

Terry has no intention of walking away from the game just yet and has been linked with a stay in the Premier League with the likes of Bournemouth, West Brom and Crystal Palace understood to be interested.

"I want to stress that the journey is not yet over. There is a long way to go and we are committed to ending this campaign on a high. I am fully focused on helping the team and manager in every way I can from now until the end of the season."