Raheem Sterling joins Feyenoord on short-term deal

Former Chelsea and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has signed for Dutch side Feyenoord on a contract running until the end of the season.

According to BBC Sport, the 31-year-old England international became a free agent in January after terminating his contract with Chelsea by mutual consent. The agreement reportedly included a settlement covering the remaining 18 months of his deal, during which he earned in excess of £300,000 per week.

Sterling spent recent weeks weighing offers from clubs in England and across Europe before opting for a move to Feyenoord, who are currently second in the Eredivisie under the management of former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

Speaking after completing the transfer, Sterling said the move offers him a fresh start and a new challenge abroad.

“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. 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,” he said.

“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. Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me — and one I’m ready to embrace. Honestly, I’m just excited to get started.”

Feyenoord currently trail league leaders PSV by 17 points, but van Persie believes Sterling’s experience and quality can bolster the club’s push for Champions League qualification.

“It’s a fantastic achievement that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us,” van Persie said. “His football resume speaks for itself. He’s a player whose qualities can change the outcome of a game, and I’m convinced he will be a valuable addition as we pursue our goals in the second half of the season.”

The move marks a fresh chapter for Sterling following a turbulent spell at Chelsea. Signed from Manchester City in July 2022, he featured in 59 of 76 Premier League matches across two seasons under four different managers.

However, after Enzo Maresca’s appointment as Chelsea manager in June 2024, Sterling was loaned to Arsenal, having fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge. His spell at the Emirates failed to reignite his form, and he was later made available for transfer.

With Feyenoord, Sterling now embarks on his first club experience outside England, hoping to revive his career in the Netherlands.