Raheem Sterling has left Chelsea after three and a half years at the club.
Sterling is now free to sign for any club as a free agent after mutually agreeing the terms of his exit.
The 31-year-old had not played for Chelsea since May 2024 even though he has remained one of the club’s best-paid players, earning a reported £325,000 a week.
Sterling had 18 months left on a contract that could have cost Chelsea £25m if he were to stay until it ran out in the summer of 2027.
The winger, a £47.5m arrival from Man City in 2022, was the first men’s signing under Chelsea’s current owners. He joined in the summer when co-owner Todd Boehly had installed himself as interim sporting director.
Sterling spent time on loan at Arsenal last season and has been training away from the first team since he came back to Chelsea last summer.
Sterling had been linked with moves to Fulham and Napoli among other clubs, but was not keen on another loan move, only a permanent deal.
Monterosa
This content is provided by Monterosa, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Monterosa cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Monterosa cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Monterosa cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once
The termination of his contract – which had 18 months left to run – means he can now join another club on a free transfer and it does not need to be agreed before Monday’s transfer deadline.
A club statement of 60 words concluded with: “We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.”
Sterling made 81 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions after joining from Manchester City in the summer of 2022.
‘A travesty that Sterling isn’t playing football’
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett on The Transfer Show:
“We don’t know the details of the finances, but Kaveh Solkehol reported on Tuesday that the total value of his contract remaining was in excess of £20m. These are big numbers we’re talking about.
“It was a problem for him and a problem for Chelsea and they’ve come to a compromise between them where he won’t get £20m, but he’s some pay off to pay up the rest of his contract.
“He can sign wherever he wants now. He can take his time in assessing his next move.
Image:
Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal
“He’s not tied to the transfer window now. He doesn’t have to get a move in the next five days, he can take stock and talk to clubs away from here for the rest of the season.
“It’s just extraordinary that three seasons ago, Sterling was one of the best and most potent players in the Premier League and England built their team around him for the World Cup in Qatar.
“Three years ago, he was England’s second-highest scorer after Harry Kane of the players that went to that World Cup.
“But since then, Sterling has been in the doldrums. He tried that loan move to Arsenal, he scored one goal for them.
“The last game he played was May 25. For a player of his calibre who should be at the peak of his powers, it’s a travesty that he’s not playing football right now.
“If the outcome of all this is Sterling moves somewhere else in the next few weeks, gets himself settled and playing football again, it’s great for him.
Image:
Raheem Sterling was key for England during the World Cup in Qatar
“The issue now is there will be no end of clubs interested in taking him, but there will be nobody prepared to pay him £300,000 per week.
“He will have to take a huge pay cut to keep his career wherever he goes. It’s clear he wants to live in the south east, he wants to be with his family, who are very important to him. His domestic situation is going to play a big part in the next decision that he makes.
“In truth, he’s a very rich man and he doesn’t need the money so you can understand why his family comes first for him.
“But it’ll be interesting to see, after two years of not playing much football, who will take a punt on him.”
‘It remains to be seen where Sterling is heading’
Sky Sports News’ Gary Cotterill in Naples:
“In the first season, he did well. In the second season, he did well, but in the third season, he was deemed surplus to requirements. He went on loan to Arsenal, where things didn’t go according to plan.
“Then this season, no appearances whatsoever, he hasn’t even trained with the first team squad.
“He’s been looking to leave the club and at 31 years of age, wants a new challenge.
“His contract for £325,000 per week has been torn up. That benefits Chelsea, who don’t want to pay that kind of money for a player they don’t want anymore.
“It’s been decided by Sterling and his people that it benefits him. We know for family reasons, he prefers to stay in the London area. He’s turned down moves before because they haven’t fit his domestic requirements.
“It remains to be seen now where he’ll be heading.”