Chelsea and Manchester City have agreed on a deal of £47.5 million to sign English forward Raheem Sterling.
The 27-year-old is scheduled to have a physical in the coming days, and Chelsea is hoping that a deal will be finalized in time for the attacker from England to travel with the team on its preseason tour of the United States.
Even though the Blues were heavily linked with Leeds striker Raphinha and fellow Brazilian Richarlison this summer, Sterling has remained Chelsea’s top target.
With a further 12-month option, Sterling has personally agreed to the terms of a five-year contract.
In July 2015, Sterling moved to City from Liverpool for an initial fee of £49 million, and he has been a crucial part of their success under Pep Guardiola.
At the Etihad Stadium, he has won four Premier League championships, one FA Cup, three League Cups, and 131 goals in 339 games for the current Premier League champions.
Sterling would provide Tuchel with a reliable threat, tactical versatility, and experience. He has directly contributed to a total 165 goals in the league in 320 games for Liverpool and City.
The 27-year-old intends to significantly contribute both on and off the field since he feels his career is at a pivotal point.
The fact that City can confidently cede two attackers to the “Big Six” teams—Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal for £45 million and Sterling to Stamford Bridge—shows both the strength of their recruitment strategy and the distance between the clubs.
Raheem Sterling
For Premier League club Manchester City and the England national team, Raheem Shaquille Sterling MBE (born 8 December 1994) plays as an offensive midfielder and winger.
Sterling, who was born in Jamaica to Jamaican parents, went to London when he was five years old. Prior to joining Liverpool in 2010, he started his career with Queens Park Rangers. In 2014, he received the Golden Boy honor.
He was signed by Manchester City in a deal that might have cost £49 million in July 2015, the largest transfer fee ever paid for an English player at the time, after a protracted dispute over a new contract.
Later, he contributed to Manchester City’s back-to-back Premier League championships in 2017–18 and 2018–19. He was selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2018–19 campaign and was named the PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year that same season.
After being capped by England’s under-16, under-17, under-19, and under-21 junior teams, Sterling made his senior squad debut for England in November 2012.
He was selected for England’s squads for the UEFA European Championships in 2016 and 2020 as well as the FIFA World Cups in 2014 and 2018.
How will Sterling fit into Chelsea?
Despite being more at ease as a natural winger, Sterling can also play as a striker, attacking midfielder, or winger. For his versatility and ability to play outside, at the point of a midfield diamond, and centrally, Sterling has received accolades.
Brendan Rodgers, Sterling’s former manager, has likened him to Alexis Sánchez because of his speed, low center of gravity, and dribbling abilities.
He has also received praise from Rodgers for providing a “genuine threat,” for using pace with control, and for his maturity.
Despite his diminutive size, he has strong upper body strength that helps him endure obstacles and hold onto objects.
