Nico O’Reilly has been one of the breakout stars in the Premier League this season, and there’s one Chelsea player he rates as one of the best to do it for his country.
O’Reilly is an impressive talent. At just 20, he’s already in contention for a starting role for England and has seemingly locked down the left side of defence under Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea enquired about signing O’Reilly over the last couple of windows, but the City boss had no desire to part ways with him.
Now representing his country, the City youngster was asked for his all-time Premier League/England XI, and he was quick to include one Chelsea attacker. But it might just surprise you.
Raheem Sterling playing for Chelsea
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Nico O’Reilly puts Raheem Sterling in his all-time England XI
While you might have thought O’Reilly would go for former academy teammate Cole Palmer, it’s a star from the previous generation who he has opted to include.
Raheem Sterling is not the most popular man at Stamford Bridge these days, but there was a time when he was considered one of the best in his position.
Appearing on the Man City YouTube channel, O’Reilly explains: “Right wing, I’m going to go with Sterling. The stuff he did at City was crazy. Also for England, he’s so quick, technical. When I first trained with him, he helped me out a bit.”
Sterling has been cast out by Chelsea after they failed to move him on in the summer.
These days, the Englishman is out of the picture almost entirely, and Chelsea have changed how they do contracts because of Sterling.
He may not be a star of the Premier League anymore, but his prime was something to behold. Only Lionel Messi had more goal involvements under Guardiola.
The Sterling situation is a travesty for Chelsea
Sterling is by far Chelsea’s most expensive player earning £325,000 per week.
Pat Nevin has urged Todd Boehly to pay out the contract and end a painful saga for all sides, but that doesn’t make financial sense, whatever way you look at it.
But it’s not just the money. As a football fan, seeing this tail-off from a player who lifted fans out of their seats for years is a crying shame.
From Wembley to world stages, Raheem Sterling deserves his flowers 🌷
Prime Sterling was putting up 30+ goal involvement seasons like it was routine. From 2018–2020, his numbers were world-class, rivaling the very best in Europe.
Scored more goals under Pep than anyone not… pic.twitter.com/e7oLosrFB4
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 19, 2025
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January could provide an opportunity for Chelsea to offload the 30-year-old, but he has been clear about his desire to remain in England.
O’Reilly isn’t wrong. Sterling was crazy good for City, and for Liverpool, but his time on both sides of London has been far from that.