Raheem Sterling has become a free agent after reaching an agreement with Chelsea to terminate his contract, as confirmed by the club on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old last represented Chelsea in May 2024 and spent the previous season on loan at Arsenal after being considered surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Having one year remaining on the contract he signed upon joining Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022 for £47.5 million ($64 million), Sterling’s departure was settled by mutual consent.
The England winger was the first significant men’s signing under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital following their acquisition of the club from Roman Abramovich in May 2022.
During his time at Chelsea, he made 81 appearances and scored 19 goals. However, the club shifted focus towards acquiring younger players on long-term contracts, and after falling out of favor under coach Enzo Maresca, he did not find success during his loan at Arsenal.
Sterling has been sidelined for eight months, since the final match of the 2024-25 season, and has been training away from the first team at Cobham.
Following recent discussions, there were no indications that his situation would change under new head coach Liam Rosenior.
Sources have indicated to ESPN that while several clubs expressed interest in a loan arrangement, Sterling preferred a permanent transfer to secure stability in reviving his career.
Additionally, Sterling was hesitant to displace his children from their current schooling for a temporary move to a different club.
Chelsea sought to alleviate the financial burden of Sterling’s £325,000-a-week salary from their payroll and had made attempts in previous transfer windows to find him a new home. Ultimately, all parties agreed that parting ways was the best course of action.
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As a free agent, Sterling can now negotiate directly with clubs. While he prefers to stay in London, sources say he will also consider offers from both domestic and international clubs.
West Ham initially showed interest in a loan move earlier this month, while both Fulham and Crystal Palace have kept tabs on Sterling in the past.
His status as a free agent makes him an attractive option, particularly given his 82 international caps, 13 major trophies, and recognition as an MBE in 2021. He also stands as a strong advocate in anti-discrimination efforts.
Chelsea released a statement: “Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, concluding a three-and-a-half-season tenure as our player after signing in the summer of 2022 following his transfer from Manchester City. We thank Raheem for his contributions during his time with the team and wish him well in the next phase of his career.”