Raheem Sterling, once a Manchester City standout, has officially joined Feyenoord, signing on with the Dutch club until the end of the season after leaving Chelsea.

Feyenoord pulled off a bit of a coup to land the England international, beating out several other clubs that were after him. Sterling spent some time talking with different teams, weighing his options, but in the end, he chose to head to the Netherlands.

This move puts him under the wing of Robin van Persie, yes, the former Manchester United and Arsenal striker who’s now head coach at his boyhood club.

Word is, Van Persie played a huge part in convincing Sterling to take the leap and leave England. It’s actually Sterling’s first time playing abroad. At 31, he wanted to stay in London after joining Chelsea, but once his contract there was mutually terminated, he was free to look for a fresh start elsewhere.

Sterling shared a quick reaction to the news on Instagram, posting: "God's Plan. Can't wait for this next chapter!!"

He opened up a bit more in an interview with Feyenoord’s website, saying, "As a free agent, I've finally had the chance to control what comes next in my career. I really wanted to speak directly with clubs and their head coaches to see where I could fit and make sure I could actually contribute.

"After some really detailed talks with CEO Dennis te Kloese and Robin, I know Feyenoord is a place where I’ll feel at home and be a real part of the team. Playing outside England is new territory for me, but I’m ready for it.

"Honestly, I can’t wait to get going. Huge thanks to Feyenoord and especially Robin and Dennis for being so patient and professional while I figured things out."

Van Persie sounded just as excited: "It’s fantastic we convinced a player of Raheem’s level to join us. His record speaks for itself. He’s the kind of player who can turn a game on its head, and I’m sure he’ll be a key addition as we push for our goals this season."

Sterling joined Chelsea from Man City in 2022 for £47.5 million, signing a five-year deal, but things never really clicked. Enzo Maresca left him out early on, making it clear that Sterling wasn’t in his plans. A loan to Arsenal on deadline day last August let Sterling stick around London and reunite with Mikel Arteta, his old coach at City.

Even then, he struggled to make a real impact; injuries hit the Arsenal frontline, but Sterling only managed one goal and five assists in 28 appearances before heading back to Chelsea.

Chelsea’s sporting directors tried to move him on last summer and again in January, but nothing stuck. In the end, they agreed to end his contract 18 months early, giving him the freedom to try something new.

Across his time at Chelsea, Sterling played 81 games, scored 19 goals, and racked up 15 assists. Now, he’s looking to rediscover his best form in the Netherlands, still in his prime and hungry to make his mark at Feyenoord.

Neymar sent Lionel Messi and his sons custom Santos jerseys, a simple, heartfelt gift ahead of the 2026 MLS season. He didn’t just mail them off, either. Neymar signed the shirts himself and added personal messages, so it felt more like a connection than a gesture. The photo says it all: Messi, Thiago, and Mateo, all holding up that iconic No. 10 jersey Neymar shipped from São Paulo.

Santos, where Neymar landed again last year after things fizzled out for him at Al Hilal, managed to keep their captain for the 2026 season. Rumours kept swirling about Messi’s Inter Miami, but Neymar stuck with Santos.

Even Santos got in on the excitement, posting the photo to Instagram with a caption that leaned into the club’s history: “From Neymar Jr to Lionel Messi. From the Prince to the Genius. The Sacred Jersey, of immeasurable value, with the number immortalised by the King: 10 for Neymar and 10 for Messi. 10 for Pelé. An infinite legacy in the history of football. Greetings from Vila Belmiro, Lionel Messi!”

Naturally, the photo made the rounds online. Barcelona and PSG fans, and even people who don’t really root for either team, all chimed in. Everyone loves seeing Neymar and Messi keep that friendship going. Over six seasons together, they picked up 11 trophies; those memories stick.

Their paths split after the 2022–23 season. Neymar tried his luck with Al Hilal, while Messi headed to the U.S. to lead Inter Miami and give MLS a new superstar.

So, could Neymar ever join Messi in Miami? Inter Miami have shown they’re not shy about signing ex-Barcelona and La Liga stars. Messi, Alba, Busquets, and Rodrigo De Paul all landed in Florida, and the club lifted the MLS Cup with their help.

When Alba and Busquets retired in December, stories popped up everywhere about Neymar possibly making the move. The club had a free Designated Player spot, and with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Neymar looked like he might want a change.

But he stayed put at Santos, and Inter Miami went with Germán Berterame from Monterrey as their third DP. Looking ahead, it feels unlikely Neymar will get a DP slot as long as Messi’s still there. Then again, Inter Miami have found ways around MLS’s rules before, first with Suárez, then De Paul.

In the end, Miami probably missed its best shot at reuniting the old duo. Still, neither Neymar nor Messi has completely shut the door on playing together again. You never know.