At this point, he must realise that his legacy as a "top" player is already diminished after the past few seasons, so there's nothing much to lose by just seeing out his contract here, which he's entitled to do.

As long as he fulfils his obligations and trains and makes himself available for selection in case the club has a drastic change of heart, then we can only criticise the decision to award him such a ridiculous contract in the first place.

Is hilarious seeing the British media which has hounded and ridiculed Raheem at every stage of his career suddenly take a sympathetic approach to him. Shows their underlying distaste to us will always win out

18 minutes ago, gurru991 said:

I guess it depends on whether he wants to play or not. He could take the 10 mil & then sign for maybe Fulham,Wham or Brentford.

If either of those clubs was an option they could have just signed him on loan. They chose not to. None of those clubs 

17 hours ago, General said:

you never did mate, but Todd Boehly and his backers clearly did (I've got no dog in RS fight just pointing out the hypocrisy of punters on here and outside)

Todd is not a football man and made an error without good advice. That advice now exists and he, nor blueco, makes decisions on players

Thought Tuchel might have started him today against Andorra.

Henderson and Sterling. A team for the future.

On 04/09/2025 at 09:31, markpitts said:

Chelsea could offer Raheem Sterling a £10million payment to terminate his deal at Stamford Bridge.

Can’t see him settling for it when he can easily sit out and collect £35m. Should have sold him after the 1st season when he had 6 league goals, and taken the hit.

Not sure that the sums will add up to make it a realistic option this season. Irrespective of the sum Sterling would take you still have to factor in the , yep that magical word, amortisation which is circa £850k per month.and wages of around £1.2 million per month. So he costs when you factor in nic around £1.4 million a month wages and in the accounts another £850k per month

Currently he has 22 months of wages and amortisation so around £30 million adding the remaining £18.7 amortisation to pay him of would entail a commitment of £48+ million. Paying him off now would advance circa £24 million due to be expended in 26/27 into 25/26 year.

What could swing the balance ,and I use the word “could” with extreme caution is that supplement to his contract with us he has a massive deal with New Balance and I very much doubt that there aren’t clauses in that contract around playing time or something like that . That contract isn’t a few hundred k it’s rumoured to be £8-10 million Pa.

In Bogarde day players really didn’t have any commercial deals of note but now some of the top players can earn more from their own commercial deals than they do in wages.Another point is that in his pay package will be a sum for image right something that may have sort of sales performance targets that aren’t payable if his name isn’t appearing on replicas or in the squad

Irrespective my guess is unless he goes on a transfer in the next window or indeed he bites the bullet my guess is that the club won’t have any choice but to allow his contract to tick down for the rest of this season

Edited September 6, 2025Sep 6 by terraloon

On 06/09/2025 at 09:40, bisright1 said:

If either of those clubs was an option they could have just signed him on loan. They chose not to. None of those clubs 

Todd is not a football man and made an error without good advice. That advice now exists and he, nor blueco, makes decisions on players

I'm assuming Chelsea would have been looking to get the majority of his wages covered with a loan deal . I doubt any club would want to assume his wages right now but with after a 10 mil payout he would maybe consider lower wages.

I guess it all depends on how keen he is on playing.

It seems compliants have been made about our "Bomb Squad" policy. PFA don't like it.

BBC Sport

PFA & Chelsea in talks over Raheem Sterling and Axel Disa...

The Professional Footballers' Association is in talks with Chelsea over the handling of squad outcasts Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi.

40 minutes ago, just said:

It seems compliants have been made about our "Bomb Squad" policy. PFA don't like it.

BBC Sport

PFA & Chelsea in talks over Raheem Sterling and Axel Disa...

The Professional Footballers' Association is in talks with Chelsea over the handling of squad outcasts Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi.

They could have left, any time, they chose to stay when they knew they had no future here. Imagine being so privileged that you get extra protection, even though you still have access to better facilities than 99.9% of the entire country. I don't feel sorry for them, not one bit.

"which may entitle an individual to terminate his contract citing 'just cause'."

Sterling terminate his contract? I dare him, please.

Strange this is suddenly a problem after teams in the past have openly admitted to using the exact same policy.

It's not our fault that Sterling Sterling doesn't wanna leave for a team outside of a 5 mile radius and Disasi thinks he's too good for any team outside of the top 10. As Maresca said, every team in the world does this.

Maresca said that Sterling wasn't part of the squad since last year. Sterling has had plenty time to decide what to do. He has decided to not make a move for the betterment of his career. He is still being paid handsomely to not work, so how does the average fan feel bad for him? Didn't we pay a large part of his wages to go and piss about at Arsenal on loan? He has shown absolutely nothing in recent seasons to warrant a squad place. At Arsenal he showed nothing. Oh diddums, he's having to train away from the squad, but still receiving his salary.

Edited September 19, 2025Sep 19 by Sunspear_88

19 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

It's not our fault that Sterling Sterling doesn't wanna leave for a team outside of a 5 mile radius and Disasi thinks he's too good for any team outside of the top 10. As Maresca said, every team in the world does this.

The article says one of the reasons he doesn't want uproot his family is to keep his son in the Arsenal Football Academy. There's a kick in our nuts, right there!

I don't understand how having a "bomb squad" (i.e. having players contracted to the club who are no longer in our playing plans while continuing to pay their salary and allowing them to use our training facilities to stay fit) could possibly be a wrongdoing, other than the fact we should never have signed them in the first place, but that's another point. Nobody is forcing them to stay here.

26 minutes ago, bluedave said:

I don't understand how having a "bomb squad" (i.e. having players contracted to the club who are no longer in our playing plans while continuing to pay their salary and allowing them to use our training facilities to stay fit) could possibly be a wrongdoing, other than the fact we should never have signed them in the first place, but that's another point. Nobody is forcing them to stay here.

The flip side, and trust me, I dont like Sterling, and want him to leave asap, is that what are the benefits of making him train separately, later in the evening. there any evidence that he is likely to be a disruptive influence - because if there is, then that is another issue, and we should fine him or take action, if there was actual evidence of disruptive behaviour.

Frankly I dont believe that Disasi or Sterling are bad influences, and as such, I dont get the harm in having them train alongside the first team squad. If players like Guiu and Slonina are considered good enough to train alongside the first team, then there is no reason not to have Sterling or Disasi. None of them are getting any first team action - so whats the harm?

7 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Frankly I dont believe that Disasi or Sterling are bad influences, and as such, I dont get the harm in having them train alongside the first team squad. If players like Guiu and Slonina are considered good enough to train alongside the first team, then there is no reason not to have Sterling or Disasi. None of them are getting any first team action - so whats the harm?

I think it’s less to do with them being a bad influence and more to do with the productivity for Chelsea.

Slonina & Guiu COULD contribute for us this season, in some circumstance or another. It’s abundantly clear that neither Sterling or Disasi will under any circumstance. Ergo it’s a waste of everyone’s time to even get them upto speed.

I see the media have found their new thing to fake outrage about 🙄

Does any one know why this investigation was started as far as I understand both Sterling and Alex haven’t made any complaints.

Our investors are all about extracting maximum wealth from whatever venture they are involved in . Surely they will acknowledge that Sterling is doing the same , and give him some sort trophy? Maybe employ him in some high level business capacity , or as a shirt sponsor recruitment agent ?

1 hour ago, bluedave said:

I don't understand how having a "bomb squad" (i.e. having players contracted to the club who are no longer in our playing plans while continuing to pay their salary and allowing them to use our training facilities to stay fit) could possibly be a wrongdoing, other than the fact we should never have signed them in the first place, but that's another point. Nobody is forcing them to stay here.

It's strange isn't it ? What could their beef be with the club ?? I don't understand what the basis of the complaint could be , IF there actually is a complaint ?

59 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

I think it’s less to do with them being a bad influence and more to do with the productivity for Chelsea.

Slonina & Guiu COULD contribute for us this season, in some circumstance or another. It’s abundantly clear that neither Sterling or Disasi will under any circumstance. Ergo it’s a waste of everyone’s time to even get them upto speed.

surely the easy win, is to tell them "look - you are not in my plans. In reality there is very little you can do to change my mind and force your way in - but as long as you continue to be good eggs, then come and train with the squad". That way, the door is still slightly ajar, they are training with the first team and at the same time, expectations are clear.

BBC....vvv

"It is understood Sterling was keen to stay in the south of England so to not uproot his family, while his son is enrolled in Arsenal's academy."

Talk sport......vvv

PFA held constructive dialogue with Chelsea and talkSPORT has been told they are satisfied with the training conditions for both Sterling and Disasi, but will continue to support them to ensure they stand the best possible chance of a transfer in 2026.

FIFA have strict regulations when it comes to the treatment of players who have been isolated from a squad, with certain circumstances considered 'abusive conduct'.

Edited September 19, 2025Sep 19 by The Rising Sun
Information

17 minutes ago, El regreso said:

Does any one know why this investigation was started as far as I understand both Sterling and Alex haven’t made any complaints.

I might be wrong , but Sterling posted a picture of himself looking sad and training alone at Cobham at 8pm . . The PFA got involved after become aware of it.

But apparently Chelsea have said he is not confined to any particular time, has been given a training programme, and an individual coach .

5 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

surely the easy win, is to tell them "look - you are not in my plans. In reality there is very little you can do to change my mind and force your way in - but as long as you continue to be good eggs, then come and train with the squad". That way, the door is still slightly ajar, they are training with the first team and at the same time, expectations are clear.

I think though, that from a BlueCo perspective (as that’s clearly where the directive has come from) this is in no way the expectation.

It’s a horrible way of doing business but it’s the route they’ve taken.

They see these assets (we’d call them players) currently as losses as they will do all they legally can to cut said losses. Why would they want to plant the seed of a potential reunion to

a) a player on extortionate wages with minimal to contribute

and

b) a terrible signing with an inflated ego of his own (lack of) ability

They want them gone. Thats that.

Do I agree with it? No, but also the flip side is their isn’t a better more protected professional contract in the world than a footballers and from a business (‘cos that’s what we are now a business not a football club) they will do all they can ‘legally’ do to worm out their side of the obligation.

6 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

I think though, that from a BlueCo perspective (as that’s clearly where the directive has come from) this is in no way the expectation.

It’s a horrible way of doing business but it’s the route they’ve taken.

They see these assets (we’d call them players) currently as losses as they will do all they legally can to cut said losses. Why would they want to plant the seed of a potential reunion to

a) a player on extortionate wages with minimal to contribute

and

b) a terrible signing with an inflated ego of his own (lack of) ability

They want them gone. Thats that.

Do I agree with it? No, but also the flip side is their isn’t a better more protected professional contract in the world than a footballers and from a business (‘cos that’s what we are now a business not a football club) they will do all they can ‘legally’ do to worm out their side of the obligation.

In which case, the only reason they are being asked to train separately is to make them feel as unwanted and outcast as possible....in which case, its a dick move. I couldnt care less for them, but if the only reason is to try and force them out, when the transfer window isnt even open, then it seems pointless. They already know they dont have a chance of getting picked.

5 hours ago, just said:

It seems compliants have been made about our "Bomb Squad" policy. PFA don't like it.

BBC Sport

PFA & Chelsea in talks over Raheem Sterling and Axel Disa...

The Professional Footballers' Association is in talks with Chelsea over the handling of squad outcasts Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi.

According to Talk sport the PFA after talking to Chelsea, are happy with the conditions both players are training under .

Another nothing news story I reckon ..

Top response from Maresca below !! vvvv

Maresca responded: 'My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he has been a fisherman, working from two o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock in the morning.

'This is a hard life. Not for players.'