John Terry, the respected England and Chelsea defender and 2005's PFA Player of the Year has been confirmed as one of the faces of the UK version of Konami of Europe's Pro Evolution Soccer.
Terry, 24, has enjoyed a tremendous season, leading his Chelsea side to Premiership glory and to a Champions League semi-final. He has also established himself as a key member of England's international side with his battling performances. As part of the agreement, Terry will be closely involved with the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise.
With its most recent incarnation - Pro Evolution Soccer 4 - released in October 2004, the series is renowned for its realism, on and off-the-ball movement and intuitive control of the best-selling football series with Producer Shingo 'Seabass' Takatsuka and his team constantly looking to add new gameplay features and aesthetic touches as they continue the quest to deliver the most realistic football title on any format.
It is this realism that, as with many other top level footballers, attracted Terry to Pro Evolution Soccer. A confirmed fan, the Chelsea captain has hosted tournaments at home for his team mates and takes copies with him when on International duty. As such, his knowledge of the game and position as one of the world's greatest young talents makes him a perfect figurehead for the series.
"I've been a massive fan of Pro Evolution Soccer for years now and am really pleased to be able to work with the talented people behind such a fantastic game," John Terry said of the agreement. "It's the game of choice for lots of players as it is so true to the real thing. I'm looking forward to getting involved - and getting to play advance versions on the way!"
"We are delighted to have a player of John Terry's calibre working alongside us on Pro Evolution Soccer," commented Jon Murphy, UK PR and Marketing Manager for Konami of Europe. "He is a massive fan of the game and we are looking forward to using his enthusiasm in the continuation of the series."