Leeds United and Crystal Palace-linked winger Raheem Sterling has found a new club following his Chelsea departure.
Chelsea paid a £47.5m fee to prise Sterling from Manchester City in 2022, but the wideman was out on loan at Arsenal just two years later.
Upon his return from the Emirates Stadium, Sterling was frozen out of the first-team fold and even trained away from the main squad.
Raheem Sterling recently left Chelsea to become a free agent.placeholder image
Raheem Sterling recently left Chelsea to become a free agent. | Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
Raheem Sterling finds new club
However, speculation has now been quelled by a move to Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord. Sterling has put pen to paper on a deal running until the end of the season, linking up with ex-Premier League star and current Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie.
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 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."
Chelsea confirmed the departure of experienced winger Raheem Sterling last month.placeholder image
Chelsea confirmed the departure of experienced winger Raheem Sterling last month. | Jeff Dean/Getty Images
‘Fantastic feat’
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.”