The Digest:
Chelsea Football Club is reportedly set to terminate the contract of forward Raheem Sterling in the coming days. The 31-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022 on a lucrative five-year deal worth £325,000 per week, has been frozen out of the first team since May 2024 and spent last season on loan at Arsenal. With the transfer window closing soon, Chelsea is preparing to officially end the agreement, concluding Sterling's protracted period out of the club's plans. The England international is now expected to seek a permanent move to a new club.
Key Points:
- The termination represents a significant financial decision by Chelsea, choosing to absorb the cost of ending a high-wage contract rather than continuing to pay an excluded player.
- It marks a dramatic and costly end to a high-profile signing that failed to deliver sustained value for the club following his move from Manchester City.
- Sterling's prolonged exile from the first team, despite being fit and under contract, highlights a severe breakdown in his relationship with the club's management.
- The move frees Sterling to seek a permanent transfer and regular football elsewhere, though it comes with the challenge of finding a club willing to match his previous wage expectations.
- The decision underscores the financial risks and potential for rapid depreciation associated with major, long-term contracts in modern football.
Sources: Daily Mail, Soccernet
