Raheem Sterling Agrees Deal to Join Team Outside of England in Shock Move

Raheem Sterling has agreed to a surprise move until the end of the season after being 'convinced' to make the switch by former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin Van Persie.

The 31-year-old forward, who left Chelsea by mutual consent in January after reaching an agreement to end his £325,000‑a‑week contract early, has since engaged in talks with numerous clubs.

Juventus and Napoli held talks over a potential deal, as did Premier League outfit Everton. He was also strongly linked with three London clubs – Fulham, West Ham and Tottenham.

But on Thursday afternoon, it was confirmed that Sterling has penned a short-term deal with Eredivisie side Feyenoord after manager Robin Van Persie played a key role in negotiations, according to The Sun.

The report also suggests that the chance to play his football away from the Premier League spotlight was also a big factor in his decision.

On Thursday afternoon, Sterling confirmed the news of his latest transfer.

“As a free agent, I've had, for the first time in a long time, the opportunity to control the next step in my career," he said, as per Ben Jacobs.

"I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their head coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me and ensure that I can add real value in this next chapter.

“Having spoken in great detail with Robin van Persie, I'm confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team."

Sterling, who hasn't played a game of competitive football since May 2025, added: “Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me - and one I’m ready to embrace. Honestly, I’m just excited to get started.”

Raheem Sterling turned down move to Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day

Last summer, there was a significant amount of interest in Sterling before he eventually decided to stay at Chelsea.

Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal. Image credit: Getty

Serie A champions Napoli were said to be keen, as were Galatasaray and Bayer Leverkusen, but according to the BBC, Sterling was keen to stay in the London area as he did not want to uproot his family, with his son currently enrolled in Arsenal’s academy.

German side Bayern Munich even made an attempt to sign Sterling on last summer's deadline day during discussions over a loan deal for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, according to The Athletic.

However, sources suggest that Sterling was reluctant to move his family to Germany.