Raheem Sterling had 'dialogue' with a Premier League club before joining Robin van Persie's Feyenoord.
Sterling found a new club on Thursday after mutually agreeing terms of his Chelsea exit last month.
He penned a deal with Feyenoord until the end of the season, linking up with former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Van Persie, who has been in charge of the Dutch side since February 2025.
On his move abroad, Sterling said: "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.
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"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.
"Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me - and one I’m ready to embrace. Honestly, I’m just excited to get started.”
Sterling, who hasn't played a game of competitive football since May 2025, opted to leave England to resume his professional career but he could have stayed in the Premier League.
According to Alex Crook, Sterling spoke to 18 clubs across the top 4 European leagues, including Everton.
Crook claims the 31-year-old had dialogue with Everton and is a big admirer of David Moyes, but his priority was regular playing time.
Moyes was in the market for a new forward, having signed Tyrique George from Chelsea during the winter transfer market.
The Toffees snapped up winger George on loan for the rest of the season, with the option to make the move permanent in the summer.
It appears Sterling was on the club's radar as they looked for a replacement for Jack Grealish, who is set to be out of the season with a fractured foot.
The former England international, however, chose to leave England and sign for Feyenoord, ending his time in the Premier League following spells with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
He could make his debut for his new team when Feyenoord resume their league campaign on Sunday against Go Ahead Eagles.
Topics: Raheem Sterling, Everton, Football
Nasir Jabbar