Former Manchester City and Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has officially revitalized his career by signing a short-term contract with Eredivisie giants Feyenoord. The 31-year-old England international joined the Rotterdam-based club as a free agent on Thursday, securing a deal that runs through the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. Sterling’s arrival in the Netherlands follows a high-profile departure from Stamford Bridge in late January, where he reached a mutual agreement with Chelsea to terminate the remaining 18 months of a contract reportedly valued at over £300,000 per week.
After several weeks of evaluating offers from a multitude of suitors across the Premier League and Europe, Sterling chose to link up with former Manchester United and Arsenal icon Robin van Persie, who currently manages the Dutch side. The move marks the first time the four-time Premier League winner will compete in a domestic league outside of England. Feyenoord, currently occupying second place in the Eredivisie standings, views the veteran attacker as a vital component in their pursuit of Champions League qualification for next year.
“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, 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,” Sterling said.
Despite trailing league leaders PSV Eindhoven by a substantial 17-point margin, Van Persie remains optimistic that Sterling’s world-class experience will elevate his young squad. The Feyenoord manager emphasized the winger’s unique ability to influence high-stakes matches and praised the club’s board for securing a player of such international pedigree.
“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 as we work towards achieving our goals in the second half of this season,” Van Persie remarked.
Sterling could make his Eredivisie debut as early as this Sunday when Feyenoord hosts Go Ahead Eagles at De Kuip. The winger’s transition to Dutch football draws a definitive line under a turbulent final chapter in London, offering him a platform to regain the form that earned him 82 caps for his country. Fans across Rotterdam now eagerly anticipate how the “RS7” brand will impact the league’s offensive landscape.
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