Chelsea set to terminate Raheem Sterling’s £325,000-per-week contract

Raheem Sterling is set to leave Chelsea in the coming days as the club move to finally dismantle the last remnants of their so-called “bomb squad”.

The England winger could have his £325,000-per-week contract terminated by Monday, with Chelsea and the player increasingly aligned on the need for a permanent resolution before the transfer window closes.

End of the Chelsea road

Sterling joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022 on a five-year deal but has not featured for the club since May 2024.

He spent last season on loan at Arsenal after being informed by then-coach Enzo Maresca that first-team opportunities would be limited.

His spell in north London failed to revive his career, with Sterling struggling for minutes under Mikel Arteta before returning to Stamford Bridge this summer in a similar position.

Despite new head coach Liam Rosenior publicly stating that players would begin with a “clean slate”, Sterling is not part of Chelsea’s long-term plans and is expected to depart.

Contract termination or permanent move

There is growing confidence that either Sterling will secure a permanent transfer or reach an agreement with Chelsea to terminate the remaining 18 months of his contract, which is still valued at more than £25 million.

The 31-year-old is understood to be unwilling to accept another loan move and is pushing for clarity on his future as soon as possible.

Clearing out the “bomb squad”

Sterling is the most high-profile figure among a group of players deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea.

Others in that category have included Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu and Alfie Gilchrist, many of whom have trained away from the main squad or been moved on.