Tag: Chelsea

Raheem Sterling has left Chelsea by mutual consent after reaching an agreement to end his contract early.

The 31-year-old had 18 months remaining on his £325,000‑a‑week deal.

Sterling leaves after three-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge following his move from Manchester City for £47.5m in 2022.

“We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career,” Chelsea said.

The England international made 81 appearances for the Blues but had not played a competitive match for Chelsea since May 2024.

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He had been training separately with the so‑called “bomb squad” at the club’s Cobham base after failing to secure a move in the summer.

Several clubs, including Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen, explored a deal for the England winger, while a potential switch to Fulham did not materialise.

It is understood that Sterling, who started his career at Liverpool and has won 13 trophies in total, is keen to remain in London but is open to playing anywhere, either at home or abroad.

Sterling signed a five-year £325,000-per-week contract in 2022, relocating his young family in the process.

The £47.5m transfer was a statement of intent by Todd Boehly, who at the time was acting as sporting director, and Clearlake Capital.

However, the people behind the deal are no longer in charge at the club.

In addition to Boehly’s diminishing influence, Thomas Tuchel was the head coach who oversaw Sterling’s arrival.

Then came Graham Potter, then Frank Lampard, and then Mauricio Pochettino, all within Sterling’s first two seasons at the club, in which he played 81 times and scored 19 times as Chelsea finished 12^th  and then sixth.

But two years into his contract Chelsea effectively ended his role as a first-team player when new manager Enzo Maresca decided Sterling was not in his plans.

He did not play for the club again and spent last season on an underwhelming loan at Arsenal.

Liam Rosenior tasted victory in his first Premier League game in charge of Chelsea as goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer earned a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge.

A run of one league win in nine had placed the home side at serious risk of falling away in the race to qualify for the Champions League, and the situation could have deteriorated further had Keith Andrews’ side made better use of near-total dominance in the second half. The visitors could count themselves mightily unlucky to be making the short trip back across west London with nothing.

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They had begun the afternoon in fifth place and should have ended it with their European credentials strengthened, but poor finishing particularly from Kevin Schade undermined a brave display, a demonstration perhaps of what is missing if they wish to be a regular presence in the top six. Chelsea were far from at their best but there was much room for optimism in Rosenior’s third game at the helm. His team dug in, showed bags of spirit and made the most of what Brentford offered them.

Pedro showed lightening-quick thinking to score when a ricochet fell his way in the first half, then substitute Liam Delap won a late penalty from a goalkeeping error to present Palmer with a goal from the spot.

Brentford though had the first clear chance to go ahead. Schade cut brilliantly inside Trevoh Chalobah but made the strange decision to square a pass rather than go for goal.

Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as Atalanta came from behind to win in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this game with identical records in the league phase of this year’s tournament, having won three, drawn one and lost one to sit on 10 points.

For large parts there was little to separate them in this game, too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the first half when Joao Pedro turned in Reece James’ cross.

But Atalanta always looked a threat going forwards, with former Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman causing problems.

James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta upped the pressure and deservedly levelled when ex-West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca headed in a cross.

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Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta got the winner late on when the Blues defence backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a driven strike.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point late on but a superb save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The result means Chelsea drop out of the top eight – the places that qualify automatically for the knockouts – to 11th with two league phase games remaining.

Atalanta, meanwhile, leap up to third, three points ahead of the Blues.

This was a hugely disappointing result for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them well placed to secure the top-eight finish they need to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta took full advantage.

The Italians are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be leaving with nothing after taking the lead.

But the bigger picture is that this continues Chelsea’s concerning run of form in all competitions.

Since beating Barcelona 3-0 at the end of November they are now without a win in their last four games.

BBC