Raheem Sterling joins Feyenoord for rest of season after Chelsea exit

Raheem Sterling has signed for Feyenoord, who are managed by Robin van Persie, on a contract until the end of the season

Raheem Sterling has signed for Feyenoord on a contract until the end of the season. The 31-old winger, capped 82 times by England, has joined as a free agent, having at the end of January terminated his contract at Chelsea – which had 18 months to run.

Sterling has not played a competitive game since the final day of last season when he was on loan at Arsenal. He endured a difficult time over the first half of this season when the then Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, banished him from the first-team squad.

Sterling said: “As a free agent, I’ve had, for the first time in a long time, the opportunity to control the next step in my career. I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their head coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me and ensure that I can add real value in this next chapter.

“Having spoken in great detail with Robin [van Persie, the Feyenoord manager], I’m confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team. Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me and one I’m ready to embrace. Honestly, I’m just excited to get started.”

Van Persie said: “Naturally, it’s a fantastic feat that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us. His football resume speaks for itself: he’s a player whose qualities can change the outcome of a game without a doubt, and I am convinced he will turn out to be a valuable addition to the team.”