Raheem Sterling set to leave Chelsea – and could tear up his £325,000-per-week contract by Monday – as they cast off last of the ‘bomb squad’ with another player expected to exit

Raheem Sterling’s exile at Chelsea is nearing its end with the club’s £325,000-per-week winger in talks to leave the footballing wilderness at Stamford Bridge.

Liam Rosenior’s side are in Italy to face Napoli in the Champions League – in what will be the club’s 100th game played since Sterling last represented them in a Premier League win over Bournemouth in May 2024.

Now, it is hoped Chelsea and Sterling will soon find a solution which works for both parties, though it is not yet known whether that is via selling the 31-year-old to another club before Monday’s deadline day or by agreeing a mutual termination with 18 months remaining on his current contract.

Sterling spent last season on loan at Arsenal but has since been training separately from Chelsea’s first team after being deemed surplus to requirements, first under Enzo Maresca and then under Rosenior.

Rosenior was asked on Sterling at his pre-match press conference in Naples but would only say when quizzed: ‘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.’

Sterling has made 81 appearances for Chelsea but has not played for them in almost two years

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.

The Blues have since tweaked their recruitment approach with incentivised contracts preferred when buying players.

Sterling is the highest profile member of the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’, which has included Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Alfie Gilchrist.

None of them were regarded as having a long-term future at the club and spent time training away from the first-team squad, with the majority having departed.

Disasi joined Sterling in training separately to Chelsea’s senior squad this season, though the 27-year-old Frenchman has since been allowed back into Rosenior’s sessions with it possible he will be moved on this month.