What Happened to Raheem Shaquille Sterling?
Raheem Sterling, an English professional footballer, has experienced a significant career shift in recent years. After a highly successful period with Manchester City and a subsequent move to Chelsea, his time at Stamford Bridge was marked by declining form, a loan spell at Arsenal, and ultimately a mutual contract termination in January 2026. He is currently playing as a winger for Eredivisie club Feyenoord, having joined them as a free agent in February 2026, and was not included in England's 2026 World Cup squad.
Quick Answer
Raheem Sterling's career has seen a notable transition in 2026. After being frozen out of the first-team squad at Chelsea and an underwhelming loan spell at Arsenal during the 2024-2025 season, he mutually terminated his lucrative contract with Chelsea in January 2026. He then joined Dutch club Feyenoord as a free agent in February 2026, seeking to reignite his career under manager Robin van Persie. As of May 2026, he is playing for Feyenoord and was not selected for England's 2026 World Cup squad.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Joins Liverpool Academy
Raheem Sterling joined Liverpool's academy from Queens Park Rangers.
Liverpool Senior Debut
Sterling made his senior debut for Liverpool against Wigan Athletic at 17 years and 107 days old, becoming the third-youngest player to play for the club.
Awarded Golden Boy
Sterling received the prestigious Golden Boy award, recognizing him as the best young player in Europe.
Transfers to Manchester City
After a contract dispute with Liverpool, Sterling moved to Manchester City in a transfer worth £49 million, a record fee for an English player at the time.
PFA Young Player of the Year & FWA Footballer of the Year
Sterling had a standout season, winning both the PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards, contributing to City's domestic treble.
Awarded MBE
Raheem Sterling was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to football and for his work in promoting racial equality.
Joins Chelsea
Sterling signed for Chelsea from Manchester City in a £47.5 million deal, becoming the first major signing under the new ownership.
Loaned to Arsenal
After being frozen out of the Chelsea first-team squad, Sterling joined Arsenal on a season-long loan for the 2024-25 campaign.
Returns to Chelsea from Loan
Following an 'underwhelming' loan spell, Sterling returned to Chelsea from Arsenal, but remained outside the first-team setup.
Mutual Contract Termination with Chelsea
Chelsea and Sterling mutually agreed to terminate his contract, ending his three-and-a-half seasons at the club and freeing him from his £325,000-a-week deal.
Joins Feyenoord
As a free agent, Sterling signed a contract with Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord until the end of the season, aiming to revive his career.
Feyenoord Debut
Sterling made his debut for Feyenoord as a substitute in a 2-1 league win against Telstar.
Excluded from England's 2026 World Cup Squad
Raheem Sterling was not included in England's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a significant shift in his international career.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Raheem Sterling's journey in professional football has been one of immense highs and recent challenges. Born in Jamaica, Sterling rose to prominence at Liverpool after joining their academy in 2010, making his senior debut in 2012. His electrifying pace and dribbling skills quickly established him as one of England's most exciting young talents, earning him the Golden Boy award in 2014.
In 2015, Sterling made a high-profile £49 million move to Manchester City, where he enjoyed the most successful period of his career. Under Pep Guardiola, he became a key player, winning four Premier League titles, multiple domestic cups, and earning individual accolades such as the PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in the 2018-19 season. He scored over 90 goals for City, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier winger.
His career took a new turn in July 2022 when he transferred to Chelsea for £47.5 million, becoming the first major signing of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital era. However, his time at Stamford Bridge proved challenging. After two seasons, he was reportedly frozen out of the first-team squad by then-manager Enzo Maresca at the start of the 2024-25 campaign. This led to a loan move to Arsenal for the 2024-25 season, which was described as 'underwhelming' and saw him fail to make a significant impact.
Upon his return to Chelsea in the summer of 2025, Sterling remained outside the first-team setup, training separately. Despite having 18 months left on a contract reportedly worth £325,000 per week, Chelsea sought to offload him due to his high wages and lack of playing time. In January 2026, a mutual agreement was reached to terminate his contract, making him a free agent. This decision allowed Chelsea to save a substantial amount on his remaining wages, while Sterling gained the freedom to seek a new club.
On February 12, 2026, Sterling signed with Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord until the end of the season, expressing excitement about the new challenge and the opportunity to work with manager Robin van Persie. He made his debut on February 22, 2026, and his first start on March 8, 2026. As of May 2026, he has made 8 appearances for Feyenoord, registering 1 assist but no goals in the Eredivisie. Internationally, Sterling, who has 82 caps and 20 goals for England, was notably absent from England's 2026 World Cup squad, indicating a potential end to his international career.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Raheem Shaquille Sterling made different choices?