The real reason Raheem Sterling rejected Chelsea exit amid major European interest
Raheem Sterling’s career has reached a road block following the 30-year-old’s move to Chelsea back in 2022.
Sterling lead England to the final of Euro 2020 with his scintillating form at the tournament, but has failed to capitalise on that momentum in his club career since.
Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal but the move failed to pay off for either party, and the ex-Manchester City winger has been in search of a new club ever since returning to Stamford Bridge this summer.
Offers from Turkey and Saudi Arabia came in for Sterling but never materialised, while Chelsea have considered releasing Sterling from his contract.
Raheem Sterling attracts European interest
Sterling’s move from City to Chelsea in 2022 was a blockbuster move in the early days of Todd Boehly’s leadership at the club.
As part of the move, Sterling had to relocate his young family, something, the BBC has reported, that deterred the ex-Liverpool star from a move further afield this transfer window.
Sami Mokbel and Nizaar Kinsella revealed that Chelsea brought Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus to the table, but Sterling’s wish not to uproot his family for the second time in three years took precedent.
This is the same reason why a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia never materialised, but it is also believed that the financial aspects of a move have been a sticking point.
Mokbel suggested that Sterling’s £350k per week contract alongside his wish to stay close to London has limited their ability to shift the winger.
Raheem Sterling represents the cautionary tale of joining Todd Boehly’s Chelsea
Football Insider verdict
Sterling was supposed to be the flagship signing of Boehly’s early days in charge of Chelsea, but the move has turned sour at an alarming rate.
The American, who looked to run Chelsea more similarly to his MLB franchise the LA Dodgers, as opposed to a football club has left the squad in turmoil.
| Signings | Depatures |
| Joao Pedro | Noni Madueke |
| Jamie Gittens | Christopher Nkunku |
| Alejandro Garnacho | Joao Felix |
| Jorrel Hato | Djordje Petrovic |
| Liam Delap | Lesley Ugochukwu |
| Estevao | Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall |
| Dario Essugo | Renato Veiga |
| Mamadou Sarr | Armando Broja |
| Kendry Paez | Carney Chukwuemeka |
| Facundo Buonanotte | Nicolas Jackson |
| Mathias Amougou | |
| Bashir Humphreys | |
| Kepa Arrizabalaga | |
| Marcus Bettinelli | |
| Alfie Gilchrist | |
| Ben Chilwell | |
| Lucas Bergstrom |
Young players are on long contracts, which help ease PSR (profit and sustainability rules) restrictions, but cause headaches for managers who can’t afford game time to such a plethora of players.
Young Cobham graduates are also struggling to break into the first team and the squad turnover in recent transfer windows has been an unsustainable way of running a football club.