Raheem Sterling leaves Chelsea by mutual agreement
Raheem Sterling departed Chelsea through a mutual agreement on Wednesday, ending his three-and-a-half-year spell at Stamford Bridge, reports BritPanorama.
The 31-year-old former England international is now attracting significant attention as a free agent, with his representatives reportedly engaged in discussions with eight clubs operating at Champions League level.
Tottenham Hotspur are among those assessing whether to make a move for the winger, according to the Daily Mail. Serie A sides Napoli and Juventus are also contemplating approaches for Sterling, who can sign for any club immediately, given his free agent status.
Sterling is prepared to take a substantial pay cut to secure his next move, willing to accept less than a third of the £325,000-per-week salary he commanded at Chelsea. The former Manchester City star is keen to finalise his future swiftly and continue competing at the highest level of the game.
His previous wage demands had reportedly complicated Chelsea’s efforts to offload him, while a preference for remaining in or near London also proved problematic. However, Sterling is now understood to be open to relocating away from the capital.
Napoli had explored a loan deal last summer but were deterred by the wage contribution Chelsea sought. A potential stumbling block for interested parties is Sterling’s current physical condition, having been starved of regular game time for an extended period. The winger last started a Premier League fixture when he featured for Arsenal against Southampton some 250 days ago, raising questions about his readiness to contribute immediately.
It could take at least a month before Sterling reaches the fitness levels required for competitive action. This concern may particularly affect Spurs’ interest, as the north London club require attacking reinforcements due to injuries sustained by Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, combined with underwhelming performances from Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel.
The England international made 81 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, contributing 19 goals and 15 assists. The forward, who was the club’s highest-paid player, was excluded from the first-team squad. He has not played for the Blues since May 2024 and spent last season on loan at Arsenal.
Sterling arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022 as the first major signing following the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover, joining from Manchester City for £47.5million. His final outing came last May against Bournemouth, when he doubled Chelsea’s lead with a left-footed finish through goalkeeper Neto’s legs after bamboozling defender Max Aarons on the left flank.
Chelsea released a statement confirming the departure: “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.”
In the world of football, every exit door opens another. As he embarks on this new chapter, the question remains: can one of England’s brightest talents rekindle his spark away from the limelight of Stamford Bridge? Time will tell, and the Premier League could be in for a captivating subplot along the way.
