Chelsea Announce Raheem Sterling Exit With Blunt Statement on 'Bomb Squad' Exile

Chelsea have released a blunt statement to confirm the departure of out-of-favour winger Raheem Sterling.

Sterling arrived at Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 after a successful period under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage.

But his time at Chelsea did not go as well as he may have anticipated, with the former England international going on to make just 81 appearances for the Blues in three-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge.

Last season, he was loaned to Arsenal but struggled to nail down a regular starting spot in Mikel Arteta’s side before returning to Chelsea in the summer of 2025.

Since then, he has formed part of the so-called ‘bomb squad’ alongside defender Axel Disasi, with reports suggesting Sterling trained away from the senior squad during Enzo Maresca’s reign.

His contract, which was set to run until the summer of 2027, has been terminated, meaning he is now free to join clubs outside of the permitted winter and summer transfer windows.

Raheem Sterling has left Chelsea (Credit:Getty)

Chelsea issued a rather blunt statement confirming the news on Wednesday (January 28).

“Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, bringing to an end three-and-a-half seasons as our player, having signed in the summer of 2022 when he was transferred from Manchester City,” the statement read.

“We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.”

The finances involved with the termination remain unclear, but it is possible that the 74 weeks remaining on his reported £325,000-per-week deal were paid in full.

If so, Sterling may have received £24,050,000, but it is unclear whether this is the case.

The 31-year-old reacted on social media posting the words "All eyes on the future. God is great," to his Instagram story.

Who could sign Raheem Sterling?

Last summer, Sterling was linked with moves to several clubs, including Juventus, Fulham, and Bayer Leverkusen, but a switch did not materialise.

Now, with a transfer fee out of the conversation, the next stumbling block for clubs interested in the player will likely be his hefty wages. As a result, he would likely have to take a huge pay cut from his previous salary.

As reported by Football 365, Fulham, West Ham, and Crystal Palace are the three front-runners to become Sterling’s next club, while Napoli also boast interest in the player.