Former Chelsea skipper John Terry dropped an unexpected admission about Tottenham Hotspur amid a discussion on the Premier League’s biggest clubs—before swiftly reverting to type by reminding everyone of his well-known distaste for Spurs.
Tottenham’s bold summer spending spree has dominated headlines in English football, with the North London outfit splashing out heavily under Roberto De Zerbi as they look to bounce back from a poor season. The signings of big names like Sandro Tonali have split opinion among pundits, with some applauding Spurs’ renewed ambition while others question whether such spending is sustainable. Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan is among the skeptics, especially given Tottenham’s roughly £100 million outlay to land Tonali. Ex-England star John Barnes, meanwhile, suggested there’s more than football drawing players to Tottenham, arguing that London’s lifestyle and global appeal naturally pull in overseas talent—sometimes outweighing a club’s league standing or recent form. He claimed that, aside from established giants like Liverpool and Manchester United, many players would opt for a London club given the chance.
That conversation eventually shifted to whether Tottenham now outrank Newcastle United as the bigger club. Despite his long history of rivalry with Spurs, Terry conceded that he still sees Tottenham as the larger of the two. Speaking on a football panel alongside Piers Morgan and Simon Jordan, the Chelsea great admitted it wasn’t an easy thing for him to say, but stood by his view that Tottenham carries more weight as a club than Newcastle.
That said, Terry didn’t stay off-brand for long—quickly reaffirming that Tottenham remains the one club he genuinely can’t stand. He put it down to years of intense competition between Chelsea and Spurs, noting that while he holds no real animosity toward Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, or Manchester City, Tottenham has always been different for him.
Even so, Terry acknowledged that Tottenham now carry the financial clout befitting one of England’s top clubs, citing their cutting-edge stadium, massive commercial income, and willingness to spend big in the market as proof they should be pushing near the Premier League’s summit.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has become a major asset for the club, pulling in significant revenue not just from matchdays but also NFL fixtures, concerts, and other large-scale events throughout the year. That financial muscle has allowed Spurs to compete for top-tier players this transfer window and cemented their place among Europe’s richest clubs.
Whether Tottenham or Newcastle deserve the “bigger club” tag remains a matter of opinion, with solid arguments either way. Newcastle can point to one of the most passionate fanbases in England and greater early-era success, having lifted four league titles while standing as the sole football institution of an entire city—with St James’ Park ranking among the country’s most legendary grounds. Tottenham, meanwhile, have made their case through sustained modern-day success: two decades of regular European competition, one of the most valuable stadiums in world football, and a growing global commercial footprint. Spurs also edge it on continental silverware, with three major European trophies to Newcastle’s single Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Opinions on the matter will likely never fully align, but even one of Tottenham’s biggest rivals grudgingly admitted that, feelings aside, Spurs have grown into one of English football’s biggest and most powerful clubs—praise that clearly didn’t come easy for John Terry.
