Raheem Sterling has found a new club just weeks after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent.
Former Manchester City star Raheem Sterling has confirmed a move to Dutch side Feyenoord until the season’s end, following his departure from Chelsea.
The club has unveiled the signing of the England international, having outmanoeuvred other teams for his services. Reports suggest the winger held discussions with various clubs but ultimately opted for a move to the Netherlands.
The move will see him team up with former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, who is now head coach at his childhood club.
It’s suggested that the former Arsenal and Man United star played a pivotal role in persuading Sterling to leave England, marking his first stint abroad in his career. The 31-year-old was reportedly keen to remain in London after returning to his home city to sign for Chelsea, but the mutual termination of his contract at the club has paved the way for him to play and relocate elsewhere.
After the announcement of the move, Sterling shared his thoughts on the deal via Instagram stories with a brief statement. He said: “God’s Plan. Can’t wait for this next chapter!!”
Speaking to the official Feyenoord website, he further commented: “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.
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“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.”
Robin van Persie also commented on the transfer: “Naturally it’s a fantastic feat that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us,” he said.
“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 left Man City to join Chelsea in 2022 in a £47.5million on a five-year contract.
But things didn’t work out as planned for Sterling, though, with Enzo Maresca sidelining the player from the squad early in his tenure at the club and determining he had no future role in his plans. A loan switch to Arsenal on transfer deadline day in August 2024 enabled him to remain in the capital, whilst linking up with Mikel Arteta once more – the pair having previously worked together at City
Sterling found it difficult to make a significant impression, despite the injuries affecting the forward line during that period. He featured 28 times across all competitions, netting once and providing five assists for the Gunners, before returning to Chelsea.
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The sporting directors at Stamford Bridge were unsuccessful in securing a departure for the experienced player in the summer, whilst encountering similar obstacles in January. This ultimately resulted in an agreement to terminate his contract 18 months prematurely, enabling him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
At Chelsea, Sterling featured 81 times, netting 19 goals and providing 15 assists. The forward will now be aiming to make his impact in the Netherlands, rediscovering his finest form whilst still in the prime years of his playing career.
