After spending the first half of the season well and truly out of the picture at Chelsea, Raheem Sterling finally secured a move to Feyenoord this week. He agreed to leave the Blues by mutual consent last month and has since agreed to join the Dutch club as a free agent until the end of the season.
The English winger will link up with a name familiar to Premier League fans, with former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie calling the shots at the Rotterdam-based outfit.
It's understood that there was interest from 18 clubs across the top four leagues in Sterling, but he felt his immediate future was best served at the De Kuip stadium. He has, however, already faced a bit of a setback.
Sterling Waiting on Work Permit
raheerm sterling
According to TalkSport, the 31-year-old has not been able to immediately begin training with Feyenoord despite. The reason comes down to simple administration as he awaits a work permit.
Indeed, Sterling will not be able to commence training with his new teammates until the permit is approved. The winger will no doubt be desperate to get back on the pitch as soon as possible, having not played a single minute of football at Chelsea this season.
Prior to that, he also struggled for game time at Arsenal, while on loan in 2025/25, making just seven Premier League starts for the Gunners. Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan explained that hopes are high for the Englishman, but he has noted it may take him a while to get up to full fitness:
“Before he’s even kicked a ball, he’s already a hero here. I still have to see when he’s actually fit.
“Because he’s only trained individual programmes over the last three, four months. He’s not been involved in a game.
“Robin knows that he has to train him up a bit with the squad in the next few weeks. I think he will not make 90 minutes immediately.”
Sterling 'Excited to Get Started' at Feynoord
Feyenoord trainer/coach Robin van Persie during the press conference
Sterling, who will wear the number 19 shirt for his new team, appears keen to get among the action as soon as possible stating how 'excited to get started' he is after completing the move. He 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."
New manager Van Persie also spoke with plenty of optimism over the deal, saying: “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.”