Raheem Sterling leaves Chelsea by mutual agreement

By Robert O'Connor, Press Association

Raheem Sterling has left Chelsea, bringing to an end a period of limbo that has lasted more than 18 months between the club and the former England international.

The 31-year-old has been training alone this season and has been kept apart from the rest of the first team, arriving and leaving at a different time to the squad and using a different building.

The Press Association understands Sterling has waived much of what was owed of the £325,000-a-week contract he signed when joining from Manchester City in 2022, which still had 18 months to run.

A club statement said: “Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, bringing to an end three-and-a-half seasons as our player, having signed in the summer of 2022 when he was transferred from Manchester City.

“We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.”

Sterling last played a competitive game for the Blues in May 2024 before being abruptly told three months later that he was not in the plans of head coach Enzo Maresca, who had recently been appointed.

A season-long loan at Arsenal last term was unsuccessful and failed to turn into a permanent move, leaving Sterling as part of Maresca’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ of unwanted stars.