Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie announced that Raheem Sterling decided to join the Eredivisie club to “rediscover the joy” in his football.
Sterling signed with Feyenoord as a free agent on Thursday, having mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Chelsea last month.
The England forward, who has earned 82 caps, has not played a competitive match since May and was part of Chelsea’s so-called “bomb squad,” which comprised players sidelined from first-team training and action.
Now, Sterling embarks on his first overseas venture under the guidance of former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Van Persie.
“You can see the energy it brings to the entire club—it’s evident on multiple levels,” Van Persie remarked at a news conference on Friday.
“We saw it today; the arrival of a player like him, with his stature and experience, is uplifting. He has chosen Feyenoord out of love for the game, aiming to rekindle that joy with us, and we’ll support him in that journey.”
“This process begins now, and we’re eagerly anticipating it, which is one reason we brought him on board.”
An ESPN source revealed that up to 18 clubs from Europe’s top four leagues were interested in Sterling; however, his connection with Van Persie and Feyenoord’s ambition for Champions League success ultimately influenced his decision.
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“That’s also why Raheem chose us. There’s mutual belief, and we’re committed to helping each other move forward,” Van Persie continued. “Our aim is for him to find happiness again, and in turn, we hope he can significantly contribute to our success.”
Currently, Feyenoord is in second place in the Eredivisie, trailing leaders PSV by a considerable margin of eighteen points, and recently exited the Europa League at the group stage, finishing in the 29th position.
Information from ESPN’s James Olley contributed to this report.