Raheem Sterling’s west London nightmare formally ended on Wednesday, having not performed a recreation for Chelsea since Could 2024.
Regardless of nonetheless having 18 months left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, the previous Manchester Metropolis ace has left Chelsea after agreeing an early finish to his contract.
The England worldwide, who obtained a giant payday after agreeing to a break from his £325,000-a-week contract, is definitely pleased to have introduced an finish to his horrendous three-and-a-half yr keep in west London.
Sterling might have seen strikes to the likes of Italian giants Juventus and west London rivals Fulham fall by way of, however the 82-capped worldwide has lastly managed to safe a everlasting transfer from Stamford Bridge.
Determined to restart his troubled profession, the previous Chelsea star is at an enormous crossroads and his subsequent resolution might show essential.
Stirling’s Stamford Bridge nightmare
There was nice pleasure round Stamford Bridge when he joined from Manchester Metropolis in the summertime of 2022 for a reported payment of £47.5 million.
Sterling, who lifted 11 items of home silverware throughout his dominant spell on the Etihad and tasted 5 Premier League successes, was anticipated to change into considered one of west London’s poster boys.
However regardless of a shock mortgage transfer to Arsenal final season, the 31-year-old failed to attain a single objective within the Premier League and returned to Stamford Bridge with out making an impression within the capital.
The 81-cap worldwide, who has not been included in any of Chelsea’s matchday squads this season and has not featured in a aggressive match for the Blues since Could 2024, has additionally been pressured into separate coaching.
Enzo Maresca and new supervisor Liam Rosenior have made it clear this season that they’ve no real interest in bringing again former Liverpool children, and Sterling has additionally seen his profession in England come to an finish.
Sterling, who shortly grew to become one of many Three Lions’ forgotten superstars, has not been referred to as as much as the England squad since December 2022.
He has scored 123 targets within the Premier League throughout his profession, making him considered one of solely 11 English gamers to have scored extra top-flight targets.
Sterling, who has been coping with each skilled and private points throughout a disastrous three-and-a-half yr spell at Stamford Bridge, will probably be pleased to see the opposite facet of west London and all eyes will probably be on the place his subsequent journey takes place.
Raheem Sterling has immediately left Chelsea FC by mutual consent.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 28, 2026
The place subsequent for England’s ace?
Having lastly escaped from Stamford Bridge after seeing quite a few mortgage offers fall by way of, Sterling must make vital selections over the approaching weeks.
He might have seen his season-long mortgage transfer to west London rivals Fulham fall by way of final yr, however it has been steered the Cottage are as soon as once more thought of a viable possibility.
With latest hyperlinks to the likes of relegated West Ham, Stirling seem to don’t have any scarcity of followers from throughout the continent.
Whereas the BBC might have reported that Sterling’s primary precedence after leaving Chelsea was to increase his keep in London, it has been steered that the five-time Premier League winner could be open to a transfer overseas.
Rosenior’s facet might have wrapped up their Champions League group stage journey with an action-packed 3-2 win away at Napoli on Wednesday night time, however the Azzurri are additionally reportedly among the many golf equipment .
However whereas a string of Saudi-based corporations have indicated they’re keen to supply Sterling a bargain-basement deal within the Center East, the 31-year-old is absolutely targeted on staying in Europe.
A number of European golf equipment are eager about Raheem Sterling. It seems that Napoli is considered one of them. @talkSPORT.
Sterling beforehand prioritized a transfer to London however is now understood to be open to a transfer abroad. pic.twitter.com/ouTbMOB356
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobBen) January 28, 2026
