Raheem Sterling Leaves Chelsea and Eyes Potential Move to Napoli

Raheem Sterling departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual consent on January 28, marking the conclusion of a challenging tenure at Stamford Bridge that lasted over three seasons. After being deemed surplus to requirements in the summer of 2024, he spent the last season on loan at Arsenal, before returning to Chelsea in 2025, where he was subsequently assigned to train with the club’s ‘bomb squad’ as he was not included in then-head coach Enzo Maresca’s plans.

In a statement confirming Sterling’s exit, Chelsea expressed gratitude for his contributions: “Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, bringing to an end three-and-a-half seasons as our player, having signed in the summer of 2022 when he was transferred from Manchester City. We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.”

According to reports from The Sun, Napoli has expressed interest in acquiring Sterling now that he is a free agent. Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly playing a role in encouraging his former Manchester City teammate to consider a move to Italy. While earlier reports indicated that Sterling preferred to remain in London or southern England, recent updates suggest he is now open to the idea of playing abroad and is willing to adjust his wage expectations to revitalize his career, which has seen a downturn.

In a 2019 article for The Players’ Tribune, De Bruyne detailed the friendship that blossomed between him and Sterling after they both joined City in the summer of 2015, despite facing negative media portrayals. He reflected, “I didn’t think he’d be a bad guy, really. But the tabloids were always claiming that he was arrogant.”

De Bruyne emphasized their strong connection, stating, “Raheem and I have this strong connection, because we arrived at City around the same time, and there was a lot of negativity about us in the press. They labeled me as ‘the Chelsea reject’ and Raheem as a flashy individual who left Liverpool for financial gain. However, upon getting to know Raheem, I found him to be genuinely nice and humble, which was a stark contrast to the media’s representation of him.”

If Sterling proceeds with a transfer to Napoli, he will reunite with other former Premier League players thriving under the management of Antonio Conte, including ex-Manchester United players Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund.