Raheem Sterling Signed an agreement with Eredivisie Club Feyenoord Until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Sterling left Chelsea by mutual consent last month, having not made a single appearance for the Blues this season.

The former Manchester City and Liverpool forward spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Arsenal, having been declared surplus to requirements at Chelsea by then-head coach Enzo Maresca.

He made 28 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, but scored just one goal while registering five assists.

Now the 31-year-old will attempt to revive his career at Feyenoord, who are coached by former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie.

Feyenoord are 17 points behind runaway leaders PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie.

The Rotterdam club were knocked out of the Europa League after finishing 29th in the league stage. Additionally, they suffered a second round defeat against Heerenveen in the KNVB Cup.

While Feyenoord have no chance of winning silverware this season, a move to De Kuip could prove ideal for Sterling at this stage in his career.

Why Feyenoord could be a good fit for Raheem Sterling

Feyenoord offer Sterling the chance to play for one of the most famous names in Dutch football, which should suit his style of play.

Regular game time is a priority after Sterling was dropped as a member of Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’. He should get it at Feyenoord and could benefit from being away from the Premier League spotlight.

Playing for a team near the top of the Eredivisie, Sterling should have ample opportunity to regain match fitness and rediscover some form.

And, although they are no longer in Europe this season, the main carrot for Sterling is the prospect of Champions League football if he stays with the club on a long-term basis.

If Feyenoord finish in the top two, they will go straight into the league stage of next season’s Champions League.

They are a Surprising package ahead of NEC Nijmegen And are three points clear of arch-rivals Ajax in fourth place, with 12 games still to play.

For Van Persie to play for a coach who has a deep understanding of English football and will be very familiar with Sterling, it could be a match made in heaven.

Feyenoord’s game with the Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday may come too soon for Sterling, with his debut more likely in their next league match against Telstar on February 22.

Raheem Sterling is ready to accept the Feyenoord challenge

Although Sterling is only under contract until the end of the campaign, he is confident he can make a significant impact for Feyenoord in the short term.

He told Feyenoord’s official website: “As a free agent, for the first time in a long time I have the opportunity to take control of the next step in my career.

“I wanted to take my time to speak with the club and their head coach to better understand the role they envisioned for me and make sure I can add real value in this next chapter.

“After speaking in great detail with CEO Denis Te Klose and Robin, I am confident that Feyenoord is a place where I can be happy and establish myself as a valuable member of the team.

“Playing abroad is a brand new challenge for me – and one I’m ready to accept. Honestly, I’m excited to get started. To Feyenoord, and especially Robin and Denis, thank you for your patience and professionalism as I navigate this process.”

Van Persie added: “Obviously it’s a fantastic achievement that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s caliber to sign with us.

“His football resume speaks for itself: he is a player whose qualities can without a doubt change the outcome of a game, and I am sure he will be a valuable addition to the squad as we work to achieve our goals in the second half of this season.”

Raheem Sterling: Career so far

All the trophies won by Sterling came with Manchester City, where he won four Premier League titles, five EFL Cups and one FA Cup.

After a controversial move from Liverpool in 2015, he made 339 appearances for City, scoring 131 goals.

Sterling previously scored 23 goals in 129 appearances for Liverpool. In 81 matches with Chelsea, Sterling scored 19 goals in September 2024, including his lone try for Arsenal to win the EFL Cup against Bolton Wanderers.

With his immediate future now secured, Sterling will be hoping he can end such a long wait for a goal sooner rather than later. Capped 82 times by England, Sterling has yet to make time for an international career that has seen him score 20 goals for the Three Lions. However, even if he excels at de Kuip, he is unlikely to be called up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.