Christian Pulisic Makes Raheem Sterling Admission After Chelsea Arrival

Christian Pulisic has detailed that he thinks the £47.5 million signing of Raheem Sterling is “another great addition” to the Chelsea squad. 

Chelsea completed their first signing of the summer transfer window on Wednesday as England international Sterling arrived in the United States for the Blues’ pre-season tour. 

Having put pen to paper for a five-year-deal, Sterling now becomes the highest paid player at Stamford Bridge, earning himself a small increase from what he was previously on at Manchester City, which was £300,000-a-week.

The winger also has earned the title of being the first acquisition made by the Blues under their new ownership led by Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital consortium

Speaking to the official Chelsea website following his arrival, Sterling detailed: “First and foremost, it’s a pleasure to be here.

"I’ve obviously achieved a lot in my career so far, but there is still so much more to achieve and I’m really looking forward to doing that in a Chelsea shirt, under Thomas’s management.

"I can’t wait to get going now and continue to do my talking on the pitch."

With the arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly this week from Napoli as well, Chelsea have already made significant strides in both attack and defence in a summer in which Thomas Tuchel has been promised up to six signings to help the rebuild. 

Chelsea’s American winger, Pulisic, spoke to ESPN about the signing of Sterling and the impact it has and will have on his role at the west London outfit.

He stated: “Great quality. We’re really excited about it. 

“The beautiful thing about being at a club like this is the competition every single day.

"We all thrive competing with each other in training and getting to play with each other is just another great addition to the team.

“It doesn’t change (my role) a whole lot, I’m still going to have to play hard and earn my position, just like I did before, nothing crazy has changed.

"This is Chelsea, this is what you signed up for, this is the kind of club it is with the calibre of players that we have.”

Even though the competition will be tough and fierce for an attacking role next season, he is relishing the opportunity to fight for a spot with one of Europe’s most talented players.

Last season Pulisic made 22 appearances in the Premier League and netted six times, while he produced good numbers he never managed to retain a starting spot in the side, impacted by both Covid and injury at the beginning of the season.                  

He will have to impress in pre-season, as Chelsea prepare to take on Club America, Charlotte FC and Arsenal in their tour of his homeland, if he is wanting to nail down a starting role for the opening game of the season against Everton on 6 August.