“I Finally Control My Destiny”: Sterling’s Shock Move to Feyenoord After Chelsea Nightmare

The 31-year-old England winger opens up on rejecting 18 clubs, Van Persie’s vision, and rediscovering his love for football in Holland

 

Published: February 12, 2026 | 4 min read

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Raheem Sterling has seen it all in English football. Premier League titles with Manchester City. A Champions League final. The weight of a Chelsea contract worth over £300,000 a week. The humiliation of being banished to the “bomb squad.”

Now, at 31, he’s trading all of it for something completely unexpected: a half-season deal with Dutch side Feyenoord.

“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,” Sterling said after his move was confirmed. “I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their head coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me.”

Sterling’s journey to Rotterdam wasn’t supposed to look like this.

Sources told BBC Sport that around 18 clubs in England and across Europe expressed interest. Sterling chose Feyenoord.

Why Feyenoord?

 

The Dutch side sits second in the Eredivisie, 17 points behind leaders PSV. They’re managed by a man Sterling knows well from English football: former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

“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 said.

“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 was equally effusive.

“Naturally it’s a fantastic feat that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us,” the Feyenoord boss said. “His football resume speaks for itself. He’s a player whose qualities can change the outcome of a game without a doubt.”

The 82-cap England international arrives with a resume that includes:

• 4 Premier League titles

• 5 League Cups

• 1 Champions League (2023)

• 1 FA Cup

• 1 European Championship final appearance

But Feyenoord isn’t getting the Sterling of 2018. They’re getting a player looking to rebuild.

For the Eredivisie, this is a statement signing.

“This is big for the Eredivisie, but also for people in Holland, where the English game is really popular,” said Dutch journalist Arthur Renard.

“Sterling has been part of the Premier League for so long and achieved big things, especially with Manchester City. When players who have won the Premier League in England, like Jordan Henderson and Sterling, come to Holland it is a bit like ‘wow, is this really happening?'”

Renard sees parallels with Henderson’s impact at Ajax.

“Sterling can just enjoy himself, and a lot of people will really like the fact he is playing. He could have a similar impact to Henderson last year at Ajax, putting in good performances on the pitch and then showing his leadership in the dressing room.

“Sterling is used to the highest standards at clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. If he can help bring the level of professionalism and way of working from those clubs, that can only be a positive thing for Feyenoord.”

Sterling’s move to Feyenoord isn’t about money. He walked away from a contract worth over £300,000 a week. It’s about something harder to find: joy.

After years of turbulence at Chelsea, after being shuffled between four managers, after being loaned out and banished, Sterling finally has control again.

“For the first time in a long time,” he said, “the opportunity to control the next step.”

In Rotterdam, under Van Persie’s watch, Sterling gets to write his own ending. No bomb squads. No uncertainty. Just football.

And sometimes, that’s enough.