Football
Exclusive: Raheem Sterling Using Feyenoord Move as Premier League Audition
Former England and Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling is set for a Premier League return after a short-term loan at Feyenoord. The 31-year-old seeks to prove himself abroad before making a comeback in England. With interest from clubs and potential fees being discussed, Sterling is focused on reigniting his career and international hopes.
Arsenal FC v Crystal Palace FC - Premier League by Ryan Pierse | Getty Images
Raheem Sterling hasn’t even kicked a ball in Holland yet, and he’s already eyeing a Premier League comeback, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The 31-year-old winger has agreed a short-term loan to Feyenoord until the end of the season, but sources insist his long-term goal is crystal clear: prove himself abroad and return to England’s top flight this summer.
Sterling walked away from Chelsea in January after agreeing a settlement package, bringing an end to his £300,000-a-week contract.
For the first time in years, the former England, Liverpool and Manchester City ace found himself a free agent and determined to take control.
That next chapter will unfold under former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, now in charge at Feyenoord.
“As a free agent, I’ve had, for the first time in a long time, the opportunity to control the next step,” Sterling said.
“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.
CONFIDENT
“Having spoken in great detail with Robin, I’m confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team,” Sterling added.
“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, meanwhile, believes he’s secured a statement signing.
“Naturally it’s a fantastic feat that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us,” he said.
“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 as we work towards achieving our goals in the second half of this season.”
Both Leeds United and Crystal Palace attempted to rescue Sterling from his Chelsea nightmare last year, but neither club could reach an agreement on wages to prise him out of his lucrative Stamford Bridge contract at the time.
HONOURS
Sterling’s résumé includes four Premier League titles with Manchester City, multiple domestic honours and 82 England caps.
He starred at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, but his Three Lions involvement has stalled since Qatar 2022.
Now, regular football in Rotterdam is designed to reignite both his club career and international hopes.
With interest from Manchester United and Aston Villa, and potential fees of £10–15million being discussed, the message is clear.
This Dutch detour isn’t a farewell. It’s an audition for a Premier League encore.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.