Raheem Sterling expressed his satisfaction with his debut at Feyenoord after making his first competitive appearance since May 2025 on Sunday. He also mentioned that he has yet to discuss a potential return to the England squad with manager Thomas Tuchel.
The 31-year-old came on for Gijs Smal shortly after the hour mark during their 2-1 victory against Telstar in the Eredivisie, receiving a warm welcome from the fans at De Kuip.
Sterling joined Feyenoord on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the season and had been training in Belgium earlier this week due to awaiting his work permit for the Netherlands.
“It’s been a great introduction,” Sterling shared. “The trip to Belgium was particularly beneficial for me to bond with the team and learn about my teammates, making it a very enjoyable experience.”
Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie noted on Friday that while he was impressed with Sterling’s “exceptional quality,” the player wasn’t yet prepared to complete a full 90 minutes.
“I haven’t played in a while, so I’m just focused on staying fit. I’ve been with the team for some time now, and it’s all about gradually building up my match fitness,” Sterling stated.
“Starting with a win in my first game is ideal; that’s the most important thing considering the goals we’re aiming for. It was a solid debut.”
Prior to this match, Sterling’s last appearance was for Arsenal while on loan from Chelsea in a 2-1 win over Southampton on May 25, 2025, and he hasn’t suited up for his national team since the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Information from ESPN Netherlands contributed to this report.