Chelsea have confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Sterling for the winger to leave the club, as he looks to find pastures new in which to continue his career.
The club said in a statement: “Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, bringing to an end three-and-a-half seasons as our player, having signed in the summer of 2022 when he was transferred from Manchester City.
“We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.”
It is a far cry from the excitement showed by manager Thomas Tuchel when he was signed in 2022. At the time, the now-England boss said: “It was the number one priority and we are very excited and super happy that we could make it happen. He’s a big improvement to our squad and is exactly what we were looking for in terms of age, experience, and style of play.
“Once the players arrive these days in a situation where they only have one year [left on their] contract, there’s always room for negotiation and possibility. We went for it. We could convince him very quickly. He was convinced, he did everything that was needed to do, we gave our best to make it happen. It’s a perfect fit.
“He gives us a lot of flexibility, mobility and attacking options at the front.”
Sterling escapes the ‘bomb squad’
Sterling was demoted to the “bomb squad” by manager Enzo Maresca before the Italian’s exit, with the ex-England winger falling down the pecking order in remarkable fashion. He was loaned to Arsenal in the 2024-25 season but failed to make any sort of impact in north London and returned to Stamford Bridge in the summer, despite him leaving for no loan fee at all. He has not featured at all this season, however, and will now seek a new club.
Manager Liam Rosenior gave an update on the winger’s future after taking the job, telling reporters: “I’ve said what I’ve had to say on Raheem. He’s a player I have massive respect for. Huge respect for as a person and what he’s achieved in the game. Now is not the right time to speak about his situation.”
