Raheem Sterling can now terminate his Chelsea contract due to little-known FIFA rule
Chelsea could be set to have an easy way out of their saga with Raheem Sterling, who is currently training away from the first team.
Sterling turned down moves away from Chelsea, according to reports this summer, as Chelsea looked to offload the England international.
Pictures posted on Instagram confirmed that Sterling is training away from Chelsea’s first team squad, having been placed in Enzo Maresca’s ‘bomb squad’.
Football finance expert Dan Plumley exclusively told Football Insider that Chelsea want to sell Sterling because of his immense wages.
Raheem Sterling can terminate his Chelsea contract
Sterling has been an outcast at Chelsea since Maresca signed in the summer of 2024, just two years after the former England international signed for the club in 2022.
The BBC are now reporting that the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have contacted Chelsea regarding the club’s treatment of Sterling and Axel Disasi.
The BBC’s senior football reporter, Sami Mokbel, said: “It is understood that the players’ union, the PFA, has intervened over the treatment of England forward Sterling and France defender Disasi.
“The PFA wants to ensure that Sterling and Disasi have the platform to train to an optimum level despite not being involved with the senior team.
“World football’s governing body Fifa has strict regulations over players who are isolated from squads in circumstances that could constitute ‘abusive conduct’ by the club, which may entitle an individual to terminate his contract citing ‘just cause’.
“It is understood the PFA has sought to ensure clubs are aware of FIFA’s regulations,” Mokbel finished.
Raheem Sterling is the subject of interest from Premier League clubs
It is understood that Sterling has been of interest to multiple Premier League clubs, lower down the table, with the winger wanting a move to a London club.
Sterling spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Arsenal, but the 30-year-old failed to make an impression.
| Raheem Sterling Euro 2020 goals | Minute |
| England vs Croatia | 57′ |
| England vs Czech Republic | 12′ |
| England vs Germany | 75′ |
Four years ago, Sterling was the talk of the town, guiding England to the final of Euro 2020 (played in 2021), but now the former Manchester City man’s career seems all but over at the elite level.
Sterling will hope that he can find a solution to his situation at Chelsea and look to return to his previous form as the sun sets on a fine career for the England winger.