Raheem Sterling Parts Ways with Chelsea

Raheem Sterling has left Chelsea by mutual consent, bringing an end to a difficult chapter at Stamford Bridge as the England winger looks to revive his career with a fresh start elsewhere.

The 31-year-old, who was Chelsea’s highest-paid player on a reported £325,000-per-week contract, had 18 months remaining on his deal but has not featured at all this season after being frozen out of the first-team picture. 

Sterling had been training away from the senior squad following the club’s decision to move in a different direction.

Signed from Manchester City in 2022, Sterling was the first major arrival under the Todd Boehly–Clearlake Capital ownership and was initially heralded as a marquee signing.

However, his spell in west London failed to meet expectations. Inconsistent performances marked his first two seasons, and he spent last season on loan at Arsenal as Chelsea reshaped their squad.

A shift in Chelsea’s recruitment strategy, prioritizing younger players on long-term, incentive-based contracts, left little room for Sterling, whose high wages and preference to remain in London made a permanent transfer difficult to engineer. 

Fulham, Crystal Palace, and West Ham were among the clubs to show interest in recent weeks, and Sterling is now understood to be open to a move beyond the capital.

The departure represents a sharp downturn for one of the most decorated players of his generation. 

A graduate of Liverpool’s academy, Sterling enjoyed his most successful years at Manchester City, winning multiple domestic titles and establishing himself as a central figure in Gareth Southgate’s England side. 

He played a key role at Euro 2020, scoring three goals as England reached their first major final since 1966.

Sterling has not represented England since the 2022 World Cup and was informed in the summer of 2024 that he had no future at Chelsea. 

Despite efforts by the club to find a solution, no move proved acceptable until the mutual termination of his contract.

Away from the pitch, Sterling has been a prominent voice in the fight against racism in football and wider society, an impact recognized with the award of an MBE in 2021. 

As he departs Chelsea, the winger now faces a pivotal moment as he seeks to reignite a career that once placed him among the elite of European football.