Revealed: How much Chelsea likely to have paid to terminate Raheem Sterling’s deal
Raheem Sterling has left Chelsea after the two parties agreed a settlement at Stamford Bridge.
There was speculation Sterling could stay at Chelsea after holding talks with Liam Rosenior, but a decision was taken on Wednesday (28 January) to part ways.
Sterling responded instantly to the news, posting on social media “All eyes on the future. God is great”.
The 31-year-old’s departure brings his three-and-a-half-year spell at Stamford Bridge to an end, having joined on a five-year deal from Manchester City for £47.5million in the summer of 2022.
Sterling had been training away from the Chelsea squad in recent months, while his last appearance for the club came in May 2024.
How much is Raheem Sterling entitled to after Chelsea termination?
There has been plenty of talk around how much Chelsea have agreed to pay Sterling following his exit.
The winger is understood to have been on around £325,000 a week at Stamford Bridge, with his contract running until June 2027.
That headline figure suggests he would be owed around £24m over the next 17 months, but it’s unclear precisely how his contract is broken down.
The Athletic reported on Wednesday that Chelsea believe allowing Sterling to leave in this manner will see the club make “meaningful savings”.
However, finance expert Stefan Borson has responded to the claims the Blues are making savings following the termination.
“Saving is one way to describe signing a £20-25m settlement agreement plus taking a £10m impairment equivalent,” said Borson.
“Must be completely fine for PSR in 2025-26 to be able to take that hit to the final PSR calculation.”
Borson previously told Football Insider Chelsea made a “surprising” decision not to offer Sterling a termination last September.
The London giants have subsequently been paying his wages for the past few months despite there being little chance of him being reintegrated or another club taking on his salary.
Who could Sterling join after Chelsea exit?
The attention has now turned to which club Sterling could join following his Chelsea exit.
It is understood Napoli have made contact with Sterling’s representatives, but it’s unclear whether he is willing to leave England.
West Ham and Fulham have also been linked with the 82-cap England international, who spent last season on loan at Arsenal.
It’s not out of the question one of the interested parties could offer Sterling between £100-150k a week over the next 17 months, potentially netting him £7-11m.
While that may mitigate the cost for Chelsea, it’s likely we will have to wait until their 2025-26 accounts are published next year for the true termination fee to be revealed.
For more Chelsea and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.