Raheem Sterling lands new club weeks after Chelsea contract ripped up | Football | Sport
Raheem Sterling has joined Feyenoord on a free transfer (Image: Getty)
Raheem Sterling has sealed a move to Dutch side Feyenoord on a deal running until the end of the season, after parting ways with Chelsea.
The club has confirmed the capture of the England international, who opted for the Rotterdam outfit despite interest from rival teams. Reports suggest the winger explored conversations with various clubs before settling on a switch to the Eredivisie.
The transfer reunites him with Robin van Persie, the former Arsenal forward now managing his childhood club.
It’s reported that the ex-Gunners and Manchester United star played a pivotal role in persuading Sterling to venture abroad for the first time in his professional career. The 31-year-old had reportedly been hoping to remain in the London area after returning to his native city with Chelsea, but the mutual agreement to end his Stamford Bridge contract has paved the way for fresh opportunities.
Following confirmation of the transfer, Sterling shared his reaction via Instagram stories with a brief message. He wrote: “God’s Plan. Can’t wait for this next chapter!!”
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Raheem Sterling spent last season on loan with Arsenal (Image: Getty)
In an interview with the official Feyenoord website, he elaborated: “As a free agent, I’ve had, for the first time in a long time, the opportunity to control the next step in my career. I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their Head Coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me and ensure that I can add real value in this next chapter.
“Having spoken in great detail with CEO Dennis te Kloese and Robin, I’m confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team. Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me – and one I’m ready to embrace.”
He added: “Honestly, I’m just excited to get started. To Feyenoord and particularly Robin and Dennis, thank you for your patience and professionalism as I navigated this process.”
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Van Persie welcomed the acquisition, commenting: “Naturally it’s a fantastic feat that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us. His football resume speaks for itself: he’s a player whose qualities can change the outcome of a game without a doubt, and I am convinced he will turn out to be a valuable addition to the team as we work towards achieving our goals in the second half of this season.”
Sterling’s previous move saw him depart Manchester City for Chelsea in 2022, with the Blues parting with £47.5million and tying him down to a five-year contract. At the time, the transfer appeared ideal, with Chelsea’s new ownership eager to rebuild a squad that had been hampered by previous transfer sanctions.
Things didn’t work out for Sterling, though, as Enzo Maresca sidelined the player early in his tenure and made it clear he wasn’t in his future plans. A loan switch to Arsenal on transfer deadline day in August 2024 enabled him to remain in London, reuniting with Mikel Arteta – the pair having previously worked together at Manchester City.
Sterling failed to make a significant impression, despite the injury crisis affecting Arsenal’s attacking options at the time. He featured 28 times across all competitions, netting once and providing five assists for the Gunners, before returning to Chelsea.
The sporting directors at Stamford Bridge were unsuccessful in securing a departure in the summer, whilst encountering similar difficulties in January. This eventually resulted in a mutual agreement to terminate his contract 18 months prematurely, enabling him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
During his time at Chelsea, Sterling racked up 81 appearances, finding the net 19 times and providing 15 assists. The forward will now be aiming to rediscover his form in the Netherlands, hoping to recapture his best years whilst still in his prime.
