Raheem Sterling Joins Arsenal on Season-Long Loan

Raheem Sterling has completed a last-minute transfer deadline day move, joining Premier League rivals Arsenal on a season-long loan from Chelsea. The 29-year-old forward, who has 81 appearances and 19 goals for Chelsea since his £50 million move from Manchester City in July 2022 expressed excitement about the transfer.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s really exciting,” Sterling shared, describing the move as a perfect fit for him. He added, “Looking at everything, I’m just, like, ‘This is a perfect fit for me’, and I’m super happy that we got it over the line.”

Sterling, a former Liverpool player and England international with 82 caps was one of the first signings under Chelsea’s co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly. Although Raheem Sterling made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season, he fell out of favor under new boss Enzo Maresca.

This was partly due to Chelsea’s £200 million investment in 11 new signings this summer. Sterling’s absence from Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Manchester City prompted his representatives to seek clarity on his future, leading to the possibility of a move to Arsenal.

Initially linked with Manchester United, the Arsenal option materialized late in the transfer window. The move reunites Sterling with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who was a coach at Manchester City during Sterling’s time there.

Raheem Sterling praised the “togetherness” and “hunger” of the Arsenal squad and expressed his eagerness to be part of the team’s journey under Arteta’s leadership. Sterling has not played for England since December 2022 but was a key player in their Euro 2020 campaign where they finished as runners-up.