Raheem Sterling has officially left Chelsea with immediate effect after both parties agreed to terminate his contract, bringing an end to a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge. The development confirms earlier reports that the England winger was close to an exit, with SoftFootball previously revealing that a solution was imminent as talks reached an advanced stage.
The decision, confirmed today by the club’s official X account, closes the chapter on Sterling’s three-and-a-half-year stay in west London. Chelsea had been seeking clarity on several squad issues this season, both domestically and in Europe, as highlighted by SoftFootball’s wider coverage of the club’s challenges and priorities across competitions.
Chelsea posted:
Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea FC by mutual agreement.
Sterling, now 31, had been frozen out of first-team activities since the summer of 2024 after falling out of favour under former head coach Enzo Maresca. He was excluded from Chelsea’s Premier League and Champions League squads for the 2025–26 campaign and spent months training away from the main group, with no clear pathway back.
In a brief statement, Chelsea confirmed the separation and thanked the forward for his service, noting that he joined from Manchester City in 2022 and made a contribution during a turbulent period for the club.
Behind the scenes, the exit is viewed as a major financial relief, with Sterling previously earning over £325,000 per week. His deal still had 18 months remaining, which could have cost the club around £25 million.
Sterling arrived in July 2022 for £50 million as the first marquee signing of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake era, but consistency proved elusive. He made 81 appearances, scoring 19 goals and registering 15 assists.
His final competitive appearance came in May 2024 during a loan spell at Arsenal, a move that did little to revive his form. Despite the appointment of Liam Rosenior in January 2026, Sterling remained outside Chelsea’s plans, accelerating exit talks.
Now a free agent, he is free to join any club immediately, with a preference to remain in London. Interest from clubs such as Fulham has been mentioned in the past, while Sterling has stayed fit through his RS7 Academy during his long exile.
