One of the stories which somewhat went under the radar from the January transfer window was the termination of Raheem Sterling’s contract.
The decision for both parties to walk away from each other brought an end to a nightmare tenure for Sterling at the club. He had not featured for the Blues since the 2023/24 season.
Chelsea were making desperate efforts to get rid of the ageing winger, with the Union Berlin director left shocked they were offered the chance to sign Sterling.
DISCUSS: Raheem Sterling shines in Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea side… 🧩
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Given how much the England international was earning at Stamford Bridge, it is clear that paying off the rest of his contract was the last resort for the club.
Chelsea Training Session
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Chelsea tipped to have paid ridiculous money to terminate Raheem Sterling’s contract
While the exact figure the Blues ended up settling with Sterling is unknown, Christian Purslow is convinced the deal was not cheap.
The former Head of Global commercial for Chelsea has told ‘The Football Boardroon’ that the Blues could’ve paid up to £20m to get him off their books in January.
He said: “From Chelsea’s perspective, let’s just stress the point. Raheem’s basic pay is not the end of it. They’ll have tax contributions, employer national insurance.
“My suspicion is if Raheem’s owed 24 million pounds from today that that’ll get close to 30 million if he stays at Chelsea now and doesn’t kick another football.
“So the motivation for them to reduce that money would be high. And so it seems to me that from Raheem and Chelsea’s standpoint, Chelsea would probably be looking to settle this deal somewhere in the 15 to 20 million pound range. Half 50 60% of what they’re owed for cash to end it.
“And I can’t imagine that Raheem would have entertained that at all. And from Raheem’s perspective, if he’s going to take a discount, then he will be asking himself a simple question. If I take a reduction to my earnings, can I make that up by being a free agent?
“Let’s just think of some numbers. He’s on £325,000, what do we think Raheem’s market value today is? Maybe £100,000 a week, if he’s lucky.
“And if he got himself a two-year deal on that, then 5 million a year, that’s maybe 10 million pounds.
“But it seems to me for him to bear all that risk to take 10 million of risk that he might make that up to reduce Chelsea’s outgoings by 10 million pounds does not seem balanced does not seem sensible.
“So, in my opinion, it would not have been that scale of discount. And if you pinned me, I would say based on that information, 19 to 20 million pounds as a settlement, which would have saved Chelsea the best part of 10 million pounds.
“Five off for Raheem, 10 of saving for Chelsea for all those other reasons. and Raheem knowing that from it for his agent, go and get me another football club even for a year on a hundred grand a week and that will make me back the five and I’ll have lost nothing in the long run. That feels like a sensible and balanced deal.”
Raheem Sterling’s departure wasn’t cheap…
For context: Marc Guehi joined Manchester City for £20m in January…
Sterling not given a chance by Liam Rosenior
A new manager coming into the club could have been the last chance for Sterling at Chelsea, after his public exile from the first team when Enzo Maresca was in charge.
Despite Liam Rosenior speaking well of Sterling, he was never seen integrated back into the first team picture before his departure.
Fellow bomb squad member Axel Disasi returned to training upon Rosenior’s arrival, although he has now moved on loan to West Ham.
The future doesn’t look bright in West London for the Frenchman either, however there is hope still he will have permanent suitors in the summer.
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