Raheem Sterling is set to make a new start in the Netherlands after being persuaded to join Feyenoord by former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie
Raheem Sterling joins Feyenoord (Image: Getty)
Raheem Sterling has said after joining Feyenoord that he is ready for a “completely new challenge” until the end of the season.
England international Sterling, 31, agreed to terminate his contract with Chelsea last month and joined the Dutch giants as a free agent. Sterling, who won four titles with Manchester City, said he made his appeal to join Feyenoord after extensive discussions with manager Robin van Persie.
This marks a fresh start for Sterling, whose career has been on the decline since joining Chelsea almost four years ago. Sterling held negotiations with 18 clubs from Europe’s four major leagues, but saw the Netherlands as a new start.
“As a free agent, I had the opportunity to take control of the next step of my career for the first time in a while,” Sterling said. “I wanted to take the time to speak with the club and head coach to better understand the role they envision for me and ensure I can add real value in this next chapter.”
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“Having discussed this in detail with Robin, I am confident that Feyenoord is a place where I will be happy and where I can establish myself as an important member of the team. Playing abroad is a completely new challenge for me and I am ready to accept it.”
“Honestly, I’m excited to get started. I would like to thank Feyenoord for their patience and professionalism as we move through this process.”
Sterling has been frozen out at Chelsea just two years after joining Stamford Bridge for £50m, and it has been a very sad career spiral for a player who was England’s player of the match at Euro 2021 and enjoyed great success at City.
He joined Arsenal on a season-long loan, but was reluctant to loan him out again last summer as he wanted stability for his family.
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Raheem Sterling was on loan at Arsenal last season (Image: Getty Images)
Ideally, Sterling would have wanted a long-term deal with Feyenoord, but the Dutch club wanted to see his level, so this short-term deal could lead to a long-term deal.
Sterling was the only remaining member of Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’ until he terminated his contract with the west London club on January 28. Sterling earned £325,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge and had around £22m left on his five-year contract, which expires in June 2027.
Sterling is the first signing of Todd Boley and Clear Lake Capital’s ownership structure at Chelsea. He made 81 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 19 goals and providing 15 assists, but has been pushed to the side in recent years.
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