Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling has made a surprising late transfer deadline day move to Premier League rivals Arsenal, completing a season-long loan. The 29-year-old had been informed by new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca that he was not part of the team’s plans. Despite being linked with Manchester United, Sterling expressed his excitement about joining Arsenal, stating that it was a perfect fit for him.
Sterling joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022 for a fee of £50m and made 81 appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals. However, after the club’s significant spending spree this summer, which saw them bring in 11 new signings for over £200m, Sterling found himself out of favor and was left out of the team for the Premier League opener against his former club, Manchester City.
Seeking clarity over his future, Sterling’s representatives explored other options, and the possibility of a move to Arsenal emerged late in the transfer window. The decision to join Arsenal reunites Sterling with Mikel Arteta, who was a coach at Manchester City when Sterling was there. Sterling expressed his admiration for Arteta and the togetherness he has seen in the Arsenal squad, highlighting it as one of the reasons for his decision to join the club.
Despite being a key player for England and helping them reach the final of Euro 2020, Sterling has not played for his country since December 2022. During the World Cup in Qatar, he had to fly home due to a family emergency.
This unexpected move raises questions about Chelsea’s plans for the season and their reasoning behind allowing Sterling to join a direct rival. It also adds further depth to Arsenal’s attacking options, as they look to improve on their previous season’s performance. Only time will tell how Sterling will perform for Arsenal and whether this loan move will lead to a permanent transfer in the future.