Raheem Sterling has agreed a deal to join Feyenoord until the end of the season, signing his contract to join the Dutch club on Thursday afternoon.
The 31-year-old left Chelsea by mutual consent last month having been frozen out of the first team picture at Stamford Bridge, which gave him the freedom to join his next club as a free agent.
The England international will link up with former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie at the De Kuip stadium having held talks with numerous clubs in recent weeks, with the 42-year-old in charge of the Rotterdam-based outfit.
Sterling Delighted With Feyenoord Move
Raheem Sterling in action for Arsenal
Speaking about the move to the Netherlands, Sterling said:
“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.
"Having spoken in great detail with 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."
Van Persie added:
“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 to Feyenoord Seen as the Perfect Fit
Feyenoord trainer/coach Robin van Persie during the press conference
Despite having interest from 18 clubs across the top four leagues, Sterling has decided that working under Van Persie at Feyenoord was the right move for him.
While the Dutch club were keen to secure the 31-year-old on a long-term deal, the forward didn't want to risk making a mistake at this stage of his career with a short-term contract working out best for both parties.
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