Chelsea Announces Raheem Sterling's Immediate Departure

Raheem Sterling's London adventure comes to an abrupt end. In a brief statement released this Wednesday, Chelsea confirmed the immediate departure of the English international, marking a mutual agreement after three and a half seasons of collaboration. Arriving in 2022 from Manchester City, the 31-year-old forward leaves the Blues as a free agent, a surprising outcome as the club initially hoped to sell him during the winter transfer window.

Having been sidelined from the professional squad this season, Sterling was no longer part of the club's tactical plans and has just returned from a disappointing loan at Arsenal, plagued by a glaring lack of effectiveness in front of goal. Now in control of his destiny, the veteran with 82 caps will need to revive a stalled career. While there have been rumors of interest from Serie A, particularly Napoli, the player could also remain in the English capital, where West Ham and Fulham are closely monitoring his situation, facilitated by his new status as a free agent.