Raheem Sterling has been heavily criticised by the Dutch media for his recent performance against Ajax
Raheem Sterling of Feyenoord gestures during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Feyenoord Rotterdam and AFC Ajax at Stadion Feijenoord on March 22, 2026 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Raheem Sterling's struggles for Feyenoord continued(Image: DeFodi Images, DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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Dutch media have heavily criticised Raheem Sterling following his latest performance for Feyenoord, claiming he cannot make an impact in the Eredivisie. The former England winger signed with Dutch giants Feyenoord in February until the end of this season.
After a gruelling 18 months where he was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea, loaned to Arsenal and then frozen out upon his return to west London, the 31-year-old parted ways with the Blues following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.
Sterling agreed a settlement package with Chelsea over the final 18 months of his contract that finally allowed him to end his Stamford Bridge nightmare, deciding to join Robin van Persie's side as a free agent after mulling over his options.
However, the former Liverpool and Manchester City star has been far from his best since arriving in the Netherlands, notably lacking match sharpness due to his nine-month absence from the pitch. This was evident once again as he started the home game against fierce rivals Ajax on Sunday.
Sterling was taken off at the 55-minute mark with his team trailing 1-0, after which they managed to equalise and secure a draw. And the winger's lacklustre display did not escape the brutal scrutiny of the Dutch press.
DPG Media criticised his apparent lack of pace, which they argued prevents him from influencing matches. They wrote: "In modern football, no speed means no danger. The arrival of Sterling, announced with great fanfare gave the Legioen hope but the Englishman cannot make the difference for Feyenoord."
AD, meanwhile, hit out at one of his efforts on goal, writing: "The tension was palpable and visible on the pitch as well, in the clumsy way Raheem Sterling kicked a ball over the goal."
Voetbal International gave Sterling a lowly match rating of 5/10, while De Telegraaf were highly critical of his performance in De Klassieker. One article branded Sterling’s performance as a "total failure".
Josip Sutalo of Ajax, Raheem Sterling of Feyenoord during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Feyenoord v Ajax at the Stadium Feijenoord on March 22, 2026 in Rotterdam Netherlands
Sterling has come under fire for his lack of impact(Image: Soccrates Images, Getty Images)
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The same article stated Sterling contributed "nothing" going forward or in defence, which enabled Ajax to play out easily. It mockingly observed that "it seemed like he was enjoying the sun more than being focused on the match".
It then suggested that if Sterling cannot impact proceedings or perform well in a crucial fixture like this, he would be "better off playing for a veterans' team."
Sterling has clearly struggled to make an immediate impression at his new club, mirroring his underwhelming performances for Arsenal last campaign. His first game in nine months saw him have a poor cameo against Telstar as his fitness was clearly below the level needed.
After three underwhelming performances, he thought he'd made a breakthrough by notching an assist in his most recent fixture against Excelsior, where sections of the press softened their initial criticism. Van Persie had been forced to publicly defend the Premier League icon from scrutiny after his debut appearance for the side.
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