Raheem Sterling has departed Chelsea by mutual consent, ending his three-and-a-half-year spell at Stamford Bridge and allowing the 31-year-old winger to hit the market as a free agent with immediate effect.
Chelsea confirmed that Sterling’s contract, which still had around 18 months left to run, has been terminated following an agreement reached this week between the club and the player’s representatives. The decision brings to a close a stint that began in the summer of 2022, when he joined from Manchester City as one of the first major signings of the club’s new ownership.
The former England international had fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge, having not played a competitive game for Chelsea since May 2024 and spending this season training away from the first-team group. His sizeable wages, reported to be in excess of £300,000 per week, had complicated attempts to find a permanent move during previous windows.
By tearing up the deal early, Chelsea are expected to make significant savings on the remainder of his contract, while Sterling gains the freedom to choose his next destination without a transfer fee attached. The 31-year-old, who has collected multiple major honours during spells with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, will now look to relaunch his career, with interest anticipated from clubs across Europe and beyond.
