CHELSEA STATEMENT: "WE THANK RAHEEM STERLING" AS WINGER DEPARTS AFTER THREE-AND-A-HALF SEASONS
Raheem Sterling and Chelsea have mutually terminated his contract. Discover why the 31-year-old is now the top free agent target.
It’s official—Raheem Sterling’s Chelsea days are done. At 31, he’s no longer picking up that eye-watering £325,000 a week, and he’s free to find a new club.
Chelsea broke the news on Wednesday. No one was really surprised by how things played out this season. Sterling got frozen out back in August 2024, then headed to Arsenal on loan, and for a moment, it looked like he might have a shot at a comeback.
But that didn’t last long. After failing to land a permanent move in the summer, Sterling ended up training away from the rest of the Chelsea squad—a different schedule, even a separate building.
Chelsea’s statement was pretty standard: “Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, bringing to an end three-and-a-half seasons as our player. We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.”
When he joined from Manchester City in 2022 for £47 million, Sterling was one of England’s top wingers—a four-time Premier League winner. Expectations were sky-high. The reality? Not so much. He just couldn’t find his City form in West London.
Even when Enzo Maresca left—he’s the one who banished Sterling to Chelsea’s so-called “bomb squad”—things didn’t turn around. The Arsenal loan didn’t help either; Sterling struggled to get into Mikel Arteta’s lineup and never really found his footing.
This season, he stayed on the outside looking in. Liam Rosenior took over as manager in January and didn’t pick Sterling for any of his first five games. Sterling last played a competitive match for Chelsea back in May 2024, leaving with 81 appearances to his name.
He still had 18 months left on that massive contract. Over the summer, clubs like Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, and Fulham circled, but nothing happened.
Now, with his contract terminated, Sterling can sign with any club—even after the transfer deadline. All eyes are on where he’ll go next.
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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