After leaving Chelsea with the mutual termination of his contract, Raheem Sterling is a free agent and has seemingly lined up his next move in the transfer market with a deal agreed.
16:40, 12 Feb 2026Updated 17:05, 12 Feb 2026
Raheem Sterling of Arsenal during a training session at Emirates Stadium
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Raheem Sterling has seemingly found his next club after leaving Chelsea and Arsenal(Image: (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
Raheem Sterling has agreed a deal to join Dutch outfit Feyenoord with a contract until the end of the season, following his exit from Chelsea.
The club have announced the signing of the England international, having beaten other teams to his signature, with reports claiming the winger has held talks with other side, but has chosen a move to the Netherlands instead. That'll see him link up with Robin van Persie, with the former Arsenal striker currently the head coach of his boyhood club.
It's claimed that the ex-Gunner and Man United ace was key in convincing Sterling to make the switch away from England, with this being his first spell outside of the country in his career. The 31-year-old was keen on staying around London after returning to his home city to join Chelsea, but the mutual termination of his contract at the club has opened up the opportunity to play and move elsewhere.
Taking to Instagram stories after the move was announced, Sterling gave his thoughts on the deal with a short statement. He said: "God's Plan. Can't wait for this next chapter!!"
Speaking to the official Feyenoord website, he added: "As a free agent, I've had, for the first time in a long time, the opportunity to control the next step in my career. I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their Head Coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me and ensure that I can add real value in this next chapter.
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"Having spoken in great detail with CEO Dennis te Kloese and Robin, I'm confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team. Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me - and one I’m ready to embrace.
"Honestly, I’m just excited to get started. To Feyenoord and particularly Robin and Dennis, thank you for your patience and professionalism as I navigated this process."
Robin van Persie said on the move: "Naturally it’s a fantastic feat that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us. His football resume speaks for itself: he’s a player whose qualities can change the outcome of a game without a doubt, and I am convinced he will turn out to be a valuable addition to the team as we work towards achieving our goals in the second half of this season.”
Sterling joined his previous club Chelsea in 2022, moving from Manchester City for £47.5million and signing a five-year deal in the process. That was seen as an ideal switch at the time, with Chelsea's new owners looking to transform a club which had been impacted by transfer restrictions in previous years.
It didn't quite work out for Sterling, however, with Enzo Maresca isolating the star from the squad early in his time at the club and deciding he wasn't part of the plans moving forward. A loan move to Arsenal on transfer deadline day in August 2024 allowed him to stay in the capital, while featuring under Mikel Arteta once again - with the pair working at Manchester City a few years before.
Sterling struggled to make much of an impact, however, even with the injuries that were suffered in the forward line at the time. He made 28 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and assisting five times for the Gunners, before he made the return to Chelsea.
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Raheem Sterling of Chelsea during a session at Chelsea Training Ground
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Raheem Sterling left Chelsea after a mutual termination of his contract(Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
The sporting directors at Stamford Bridge were unable to seal a move away for the experienced star in the summer, while they faced similar challenges in January. That ultimately led to an agreement over the termination of his contract 18 months early, allowing him to find football elsewhere.
At Chelsea, Sterling managed to make 81 appearances, scoring 19 goals and assisting 15 times. The forward will now be looking to make his mark in the Netherlands, getting back to his very best while still in the peak years of his playing career.