His best was 6 years ago with Man City.

4 hours ago, just said:

Personally, I think Tuchel also needs to shoulder part of the blame for Sterling.

Yep. Sterling was a good player. But he was never the right player for us. We should not have bought him.

What should we do with him now?

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

We need options up front, Sterling has played false 9 many times, he is still our player, have him replace delap.

Maybe. I don't know what else we are going to do with him. He has stated all along that he doesn't want to leave the London area.

3 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Yep. Sterling was a good player. But he was never the right player for us. We should not have bought him.

What should we do with him now?

Maybe. I don't know what else we are going to do with him. He has stated all along that he doesn't want to leave the London area.

Ge is a good finisher just a bad desicion maker. Play him up top to finish stuff may work.

Hazard (towards the end of his career) and Sterling are prime examples that being a 'family man' isn’t always a good thing; it can signify a shift in one’s priorities.

His willingness to simply collect his fat paycheck without ever kicking a ball again shows such a lack of ambition that it tells everyone all they need to know about him. This should also affect his future prospects. I’m not sure if this is a good career move, especially with just two years left on his deal, but I don’t think he cares anymore.

22 minutes ago, acaeus said:

Hazard (towards the end of his career) and Sterling are prime examples that being a 'family man' isn’t always a good thing; it can signify a shift in one’s priorities.

His willingness to simply collect his fat paycheck without ever kicking a ball again shows such a lack of ambition that it tells everyone all they need to know about him. This should also affect his future prospects. I’m not sure if this is a good career move, especially with just two years left on his deal, but I don’t think he cares anymore.

I mean it is, just not necessarily for a club. But in both instances you have a prodigious talent who ended up being mistreated by a club to some extent, and whatever professional loyalty they had is forever ruined. Footballers are employees like everyone else, legally and ethically.

Sterling would have a different attitude had he not been consigned to a 'bomb squad' solely for financial reasons. Yes he was a mistake signing by Boehly, but the sporting directors decided on his treatment. Our best and most suited winger was removed from Maresca's squad and the coach was told to toe the line. The directors stuffed that up, couldn't sell him/move him on, they tried to play a game and lost. Now we bear the consequences. Sterling may have no interest in "career", he will just collect the money he is legally entitled to and we will have to suck it up.

As they say, phenomenal.

No professional pride. Gone from winning and challenging for the premier league a couple of years ago - to accepting rotting in the bomb squad. Disgusting.

Yes chelsea must honour the contract, and it's Sterlings "right" to stay and collect the pay slip.... but it says a lot about his mentality.

2 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

No professional pride. Gone from winning and challenging for the premier league a couple of years ago - to accepting rotting in the bomb squad. Disgusting.

Yes chelsea must honour the contract, and it's Sterlings "right" to stay and collect the pay slip.... but it says a lot about his mentality.

Wasn't his choice to "rot". The directors (not even the coach) decided he was unwanted and then were thoroughly surprised when no one wanted to buy from the discard pile. There is no "professional pride" in acquiescing to a bully.

His mentality is fantastic, hasn't said a bad word about the club, still continues to train in isolation and fulfil his obligation. He isn't leaking to the press or undermining the team despite his disappointment and by all reports, he's respected by the young players. Hasn't thrown his toys out of the pram like many before him. These takes on Sterling and Chilwell are weak.

3 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

No professional pride. Gone from winning and challenging for the premier league a couple of years ago - to accepting rotting in the bomb squad. Disgusting.

Yes chelsea must honour the contract, and it's Sterlings "right" to stay and collect the pay slip.... but it says a lot about his mentality.

I think it say more about the club that we sent a player that we can actually side to b squad to force him to leave.

Edited September 2, 2025Sep 2 by Bob stark

I did see a rumour of Sterling having his contract terminated, why hasn't that happened? Would save us money on wages, we're not going to get a transfer fee for him either way

7 minutes ago, EB8 said:

I did see a rumour of Sterling having his contract terminated, why hasn't that happened? Would save us money on wages, we're not going to get a transfer fee for him either way

How would it save on wages? We'd have to pay them all now

This is up there with one of our worst signings - certainly in terms of cost and return. Sterling and Lukaku - boy the money wasted.

6 hours ago, acaeus said:

Hazard (towards the end of his career) and Sterling are prime examples that being a 'family man' isn’t always a good thing; it can signify a shift in one’s priorities.

His willingness to simply collect his fat paycheck without ever kicking a ball again shows such a lack of ambition that it tells everyone all they need to know about him. This should also affect his future prospects. I’m not sure if this is a good career move, especially with just two years left on his deal, but I don’t think he cares anymore.

Lack of ambition? You're talking about 2 players that between them have 26 major honours and countless individual awards over their career. Don't put someone on 300k a week then expect them to agree to leave most of it behind because you've had enough of them after a year. Not a single person in here would throw away £20m if we were in their position.

49 minutes ago, EB8 said:

I did see a rumour of Sterling having his contract terminated, why hasn't that happened? Would save us money on wages, we're not going to get a transfer fee for him either way

You have to buy out their contract to terminate it. It would mean us paying all his salary upfront then him being able to find a new club, what would be the point?

6 hours ago, acaeus said:

Hazard (towards the end of his career) and Sterling are prime examples that being a 'family man' isn’t always a good thing; it can signify a shift in one’s priorities.

His willingness to simply collect his fat paycheck without ever kicking a ball again shows such a lack of ambition that it tells everyone all they need to know about him. This should also affect his future prospects. I’m not sure if this is a good career move, especially with just two years left on his deal, but I don’t think he cares anymore.

Hazard had some bad injuries and was brought back too early from one, causing another. He's talked about how he got injured during Covid and got almost no physio and training guidance from Madrid, just being left to himself with minimal training facilities. He'd always struggled with offseason weightgain so this basically doomed him.

48 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

How would it save on wages? We'd have to pay them all now

If he agreed to a termination by mutual consent it would be less than the full value of the contract. Though he would be unwise to financially, if he wants to play, he needs to move

Isnt there still chances for him to leave, Some countries windows are still open, plus is the window for loans still open longer than the actual transfer one? Though that might just be to lower league clubs I think.

6 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

You have to buy out their contract to terminate it. It would mean us paying all his salary upfront then him being able to find a new club, what would be the point?

Not just his salary which would almost certainly be less than the sum still due under the contract but not by much , and yes it’s back to the magic issue of depreciation.

Normally it would be amortisation but if we saw Sterlings contract ended with it all the residue sum of his fee which is currently £20m ish would have to be “ impaired ( there’s another great word) meaning the 26/7 amortisation will be advanced into 25/6

1 minute ago, dkw said:

Isnt there still chances for him to leave, Some countries windows are still open, plus is the window for loans still open longer than the actual transfer one? Though that might just be to lower league clubs I think.

The Turkish and Saudi windows are still open. There is no chance going to any of the other countries at this point in time.

To be honest he is a very rich man already but 2 years in Saudi would likely make what he gets from us seem poverty wages

Edited September 2, 2025Sep 2 by terraloon

9 minutes ago, terraloon said:

The Turkish and Saudi windows are still open. There is no chance going to any of the other countries at this point in time.

To be honest he is a very rich man already but 2 years in Saudi would likely make what he gets from us seem poverty wages

I'd put good money on him retiring at the end of this contract with us.

11 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

I'd put good money on him retiring at the end of this contract with us.

Could probably still do a 2 year contract at a London PL club. He'd cost nothing, and wages wouldn't necessarily be an issue. I doubt he'll be asking anywhere near his current £325K a week. Probably a third of that ... I think he'd still get interest from the likes of Fulham, Brentford, West Ham, Crystal Palace, maybe even Brighton a bit further south, who aren't averse to having a bit of experience around the place !

I personally find him very sneaky and crafty. Ever since we signed him, and things he not working out he has tended to use the he media as a mouthpiece in a clever way. Just yesterday after the window closed we hear that;

“Raheem Sterling still has high ambitions and that includes a desire to represent England again someday after winning 82 caps previously. He will now have to focus on continuing to train at Cobham – separately if necessary.

He would have likely moved out of the capital if the right opportunity had been offered. Despite his salary often being cited as a big stumbling block, the feeling is that wages would not have been an obstacle.

He could have switched to Saudi Arabia previously if money was the priority. The Saudi window will remain open until September 23, but Sterling has no desire to move there this summer.”

My thing is he has had 3mths to work with his agent and the club and figure out a move but it’s been quiet all summer till the last few days/weeks. I just get the vibe he has clocked out ever since we signed him. The move never made any sense from Day 1, City offered him a deal but he rejected on the grounds of wanting more money. He was already on £250k/w and demanded parity with De Bruyne and Halaand. He now ended up here talking about wanting to win trophies, when it was obvious he just wanted to move back to London.

He is entitled to his wages but I can’t take him serious as a footballer. William walked away from a 2yr £250k/w deal at Arsenal when Arteta decided to move in another direction 6mths into his contract- on a free transfer. He went back to Brazil for 6mths, came back to the PL on very reduced wages because he felt he could still compete on a high level. It’s Sterling’s money and his right but not buying the idea he wants to play.

Still think he'd have done a better job than Myudrk & Sancho last season and Garncho and Gittens this season if we'd given him the chance.

11 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

Still think he'd have done a better job than Myudrk & Sancho last season and Garncho and Gittens this season if we'd given him the chance.

No, his form has fallen off a cliff. Did you see any of his minutes at Arsenal?

Such a frustrating player too. So many wrong options. Sad that his time with CFC will mainly be remembered for THAT free-kick!!

51 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

Still think he'd have done a better job than Myudrk & Sancho last season and Garncho and Gittens this season if we'd given him the chance.

Nope.. legs are gone. He was never the most skilled player, what he had was pace to burn. He was already losing that when we signed him, I can remember his last year at City he was just running behind at the far post to score. That extra yard isn’t there anymore. He did get decent minutes on loan at Arsenal but finished with 0 goals and 2 assists in the league. 18yr old Nwaneri had 4 goals and 2 assists in comparison. He is a waste of squad place if integrated IMO when you consider someone like Tyrique George would benefit more from those min, even if the intention is to sell him in Jan.

3 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Could probably still do a 2 year contract at a London PL club. He'd cost nothing, and wages wouldn't necessarily be an issue. I doubt he'll be asking anywhere near his current £325K a week. Probably a third of that ... I think he'd still get interest from the likes of Fulham, Brentford, West Ham, Crystal Palace, maybe even Brighton a bit further south, who aren't averse to having a bit of experience around the place !

Oh he absolutely could for sure. I just think he has no desire to do that.

Hes leaking that he has ambitions to play and wages wouldn't have been an issue. No f**king chance that's true. He realised last year his game is done.

He could easily have got a move to Italy, France or Spain, he just didn't want to go anywhere and sacrifice his full wage.