Raheem Sterling has completed a move to Dutch side Feyenoord until the end of the season, following his departure from Chelsea.
The England international mutually terminated his contract at the London club last month, with his last match in their colour coming in 2024.
The 31-year-old joined the Blues in 2022 from Manchester City, but fell out of favour under Enzo Maresca and was loaned to Arsenal for the whole of the 2024-25 campaign.
On his return to Chelsea, he was frozen out of the team entirely alongside some other players who were deemed surplus to requirements.
The former Liverpool winger has now completed his first-ever move abroad, where he will now work under the iconic Robin Van Persie.
“As a free agent I’ve had, for the first time in a long time, the opportunity to control the next step in my career”, Sterling said after the move.
“I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their head coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me and ensure that I can add real value in this next chapter.
“Having spoken in great detail with Robin, I’m confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team.”
Feyenoord were among a list of suitors who were interested in the 31-year-old and they were quick to act after Van Persie’s son, Shaqueel, suffered a season-ending injury.
Sterling brings a wealth of experience and will help the club as they hope for an unlikely title challenge against league leaders PSV Eindhoven.
“Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me — and one I’m ready to embrace. Honestly, I’m just excited to get started. To Feyenoord and particularly Robin and [general manager] Dennis [te Kloese], thank you for your patience and professionalism as I navigated this process”, Sterling concluded.
The England forward could make his debut for Feyenoord against Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday, marking his first competitive match in almost a year.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
