Raheem Sterling Stays in North London on Season-Long Loan to Arsenal: "Unbelievable Feeling, I’m Buzzing"
Sterling with Arsenal shirt (Photo: Arsenal FC)
Raheem Sterling has found a new club as Arsenal officially announced his signing on loan from Chelsea for the 2024/25 Premier League season. The 29-year-old winger was not part of new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's plans at Stamford Bridge.
Despite having three years remaining on his Chelsea contract, which earns him $400,000 per week, Sterling accepted a pay cut to facilitate the move to North London. The winger, who attracted interest from several clubs, including Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Juventus, and Fenerbahce, preferred to stay in North London, opting for a loan spell with the Gunners.
Sterling has previously worked with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during their time at Manchester City, and Arteta spoke highly of the winger during the transfer window. The loan deal does not include an obligation for Arsenal to sign Sterling permanently, and it's understood that the winger accepted a pay reduction for the move.
Arsenal's sporting director, Edu, revealed that the club initially had no plans to sign Sterling but seized the opportunity when it arose. "To be fair we never planned really to sign him when we started the transfer window, just to be very transparent, for different reasons. But we always say to everyone that you have to be prepared for every single scenario. So when that opportunity came to me, and I checked the squad, I checked how he plays, and spoke to Mikel of course."
Sterling expressed his excitement about joining Arsenal, stating, "Joining Arsenal is an unbelievable feeling. I’m buzzing. This is a perfect fit for me. You can see the journey the team is on, the hunger, and the togetherness—it's something I’m eager to be a part of."
According to reports from the Mirror, Sterling rejected a stunning £650k-a-week offer from Saudi Arabia to join Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.
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