Raheem Sterling has his £325,000-a-week Chelsea contract ripped up 18 months early, with his last appearance for the club coming in May 2024

Raheem Sterling has officially left Chelsea by mutual agreement – with his £325,000-per-week contract ripped up to end his exile at Stamford Bridge.

Daily Mail Sport revealed yesterday how the 31-year-old winger was in talks to finally leave the Blues and that there was increasing confidence of a solution being found.

Now, Sterling and Chelsea have agreed to part ways, despite his deal having 18 months to run.

The terms of the settlement are not being revealed by either side, but we are told it achieves a meaningful saving to Chelsea while also allowing Sterling to reignite his career. 

A club statement confirmed: ‘Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, bringing to an end three-and-a-half seasons as our player, having signed in the summer of 2022 when he was transferred from Manchester City.

‘We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.’

Sterling took to Instagram to share a brief message, saying: ‘All eyes on the future. God is great.’ 

Sterling is now a free agent with sources close to the 82-time capped England international believing it will open up the market on his behalf as an experienced player who has represented the biggest Premier League clubs and is still in his early thirties. 

Sterling’s last appearance for Chelsea was against Bournemouth in May 2024 – a 2-1 win in which he scored to help the Blues secure qualification for the Conference League.

They went on to win that European competition in the next campaign without Sterling, who spent an underwhelming season-long loan at Arsenal. While at Chelsea, he trained separately from the first-team group as was not seen as a part of their future plans.

Daily Mail Sport asked Rosenior about Sterling in Naples on Tuesday night but Enzo Maresca’s successor only said: ‘I’ve said what I’ve had to say on Raheem. He’s a player I have massive respect for. Huge respect for as a person and what he’s achieved in the game. Now is not the right time to speak about his situation.’

Chelsea signed Sterling on a five-year contract in 2022 from Manchester City for a fee worth £47.5million. He was the first signing made by Chelsea’s Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership in what was considered an early statement of intent by the hierarchy.