Raheem Sterling leaves Chelsea by mutual consent

protection. stability. soccer. These are the three factors that are at the top of Sterling’s checklist as he considers his next move.

After 18 months in the Chelsea wilderness, what’s next for the striker?

Well, there has been a persistent narrative that the failure to find a new club for Sterling last summer was rooted in his desire to remain in London.

Having uprooted his family from Manchester to the capital following his move to Chelsea in 2022, he did not want to disrupt his family again.

In fact, his loan move to Arsenal last season allowed him to remain in London, and it’s true to say that the fact that his son was enrolled in the north London club’s academy meant that, like any father, he was reluctant to disturb his family’s routine.

But it became clear at the start of January that Sterling was open to a move to a club outside the capital in a bid to revive his career.

With his exit from Chelsea now complete, Sterling will not limit his options within the London environment.

But as he considers his next move, there will be a host of critical factors he will take into consideration.

First and foremost is the security of his family. Sterling has been the victim of two home burglaries since 2022.

If Sterling leaves London, he will look for an opportunity that can provide himself, his family and his career with long-term stability and peace of mind.

He did not imagine that his return to London would face such turmoil. Sterling wants to avoid a repeat of that when he signs his next contract.

Sterling longs for a stable life on and off the field.

And last but not least, there’s football. He has spent the past six months training away from Chelsea’s first team, cut off from the benefits afforded to professional footballers.

His loan spell at Arsenal last season did not go according to plan, as he made just 13 appearances in all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s side, scoring once in the UEFA Cup win over Bolton.

Arsenal are understood to have paid around 20% of his reported wages of £325,000-a-week, so while his lack of action has become an obvious frustration, it has cost the club relatively little financially, while Arteta has often praised Sterling’s influence – especially around younger players.

In fact, Sterling’s next club will sign with a proven winner – five Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five League Cup victories, an impressive tally of silverware.

At 31 years old, there are still miles to go, supported by the fact that Sterling has never suffered a serious injury.

His resume speaks for itself. His focus will now shift to adding to it.