After four Premier League titles, one FA Cup, five League Cups and 82 caps for England, Raheem Sterling has already accomplished a lot at the top level in football.
However, his track record in recent seasons indicates a career in decline, reflected in his arrival in the Eredivisie in February 2026. Having come to the fore during his spell at Liverpool and becoming a mainstay in the England team under then manager Roy Hodgson, Sterling forced a move to the Blue half of Manchester.
At just 31 years old, Raheem Sterling should be at the peak of his powers, still haunting defenders with his blistering pace and unique gait.
The reality is that he isn’t.
Raheem Sterling’s downward career spiral
In July 2022, the Jamaica-born attacker moved from Manchester City to Chelsea in a blockbuster five-year deal worth an estimated £50 million.
The first signing of the Todd Boehly era was supposed to be a signal of intent but it has proven to be a microcosm of the dysfunction and largesse witnessed recently at Stamford Bridge.
In his first two seasons in West London, the return was solid if not spectacular.
2022/23 brought nine goals and four assists from 38 appearances, with the Blues finishing a miserable 12th in the Premier League, as Boehly burned through Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard in the dugout.
Raheem Sterling actually finished joint top scorer with Kai Havertz that year
The following season brought Mauricio Pochettino’s stint in SW6, but despite restoring respectability, further change would follow.
Raheem Sterling recorded 10 goals and 11 assists from 43 outings in 2023/24, a solid contribution, but that would be as good as it gets at Chelsea, and possibly for his career.
Beginning of the end at Chelsea
The arrival of Enzo Maresca led directly to Sterling’s exit in the summer of 2024.
The Italian coach made it clear that “I spoke with Raheem…I said that he is going to struggle to get minutes with us,” and a loan agreement was reached with Arsenal.
After spending last season on loan at the Emirates playing for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta some people expected Sterling to come back into form working under a manager he knows well from his Man City days.
However he was little more than a bit-part player last season, before returning to his parent club last summer, but there would be no way back. His move to North London made him one of the few players to play for 4 of the 5 biggest clubs in England. Only Man United is not on his CV and is very unlikely to appear now.
The Liverpool academy graduate was bombed out at Chelsea, left in the cold, until Feyenoord emerged as the next staging post in what has been a colourful career to date.
He won’t be short of Euros in the Netherlands, that’s for sure.
After the mutual agreement to rip up a five-year contract, including a whopping £300,000 per week, it is estimated that Sterling has walked away from Stamford Bridge with a lump sum of between £17-24 million.
He had 18 months remaining on the contract. He was linked with a move to Fulham in January and you might have expected the likes of Everton, Aston Villa, Spurs and West Ham to have been interested in signing him but for whatever reason he chose to leave the Premier League.
How Sterling signed for Feyenoord
From elite Manchester City operator to career salvage mission at Feyenoord, the current situation is one of the biggest challenges of his career.
From a football perspective, Sterling is obviously far from his best and previous optimum level.
If he was, he wouldn’t be in the Netherlands.
However, from a human level, there is plenty to admire about this switch.
The Netherlands is a very liveable country for British people, given the close proximity to the UK, the lack of a language barrier, and the similar traits of the Dutch people.
Of course, there is a unique history and language there to explore if you wish, but it’s a change of scenery for Raheem Sterling and a shot at football redemption.
When he signed for Feyenoord last month, the Rotterdam giants understandably presented the signing as a coup.
Feyenoord’s Head Coach Robin Van Persie said, “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.”
As for Sterling, he detailed that “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.
He continued, 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.”
Last Sunday, Raheem Sterling made his first start for Feyenoord in a 3-3 draw away to NAC Breda.
Robin van Persie is under pressure after an inconsistent, stuttering season, while PSV Eindhoven are romping to the Dutch title with a massive 19-point lead at the time of writing.
Sterling still far from impressive in the Eredivisie
In that environment, an immediate impact wasn’t always likely, especially for a player drastically short of sharpness and verve.
Speaking to Essential.Football, AD newspaper’s Feyenoord correspondent Mikos Gouka provided some expert local insight on the situation.
“Raheem Sterling’s signing caused a stir in Rotterdam, where Feyenoord is having a very difficult season.
“Van Persie called it one of the biggest transfers ever in the Eredivisie.
“The fans were very enthusiastic, but his first two substitute appearances against Telstar and FC Twente made it clear why Sterling came to the Netherlands and didn’t sign a contract in a bigger league.
“Sterling isn’t fully fit, and Van Persie says it would be more fair to wait five or six matches before making a judgment. He believes that a prematurely critical assessment of Sterling is misplaced.
“On Sunday against NAC, Sterling made his first start, and he fared slightly better, but still far from truly good or impressive. He’s nowhere near as quick as he used to be.
“He back-heeled to Jordan Bos, and Ayase Ueda converted his cross to make it 3-3, but Sterling also missed a golden opportunity in Breda.
On a wider impact for Dutch football, Gouka remains to be convinced.
“His arrival in the Netherlands has certainly had an impact on the Eredivisie. But the conclusion so far is that a big Premier League star doesn’t just make a difference against smaller clubs if he’s not fit. The defenders in the Netherlands are good at that.
He concluded, “According to Van Persie, Sterling will make the difference in the coming months. There are eight matches left, and the league ends here on May 17.”