Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City on a five-year contract.
The Blues will pay their Premier League rivals £50m for the
England star, who is set to earn more than the £300,000 a week he was paid by
the Manchester club reports the Daily Mail. The 27-year-old has signed a
five-year deal with the London side, which will keep him at Stamford Bridge
until 2027, whilst there is also an option of an extra year should either party
want to extend when the time comes.
Sterling becomes the first signing of the Todd Boehly era at
Chelsea after Leaving Man City after an incredibly successful seven years with
the Manchester club, a time in which he scored 131 goals in 339 appearances for
the reigning Premier League champions.
Last season Sterling broke into the club’s top 10 list of
all-time goalscorers, which underlines the influence the England international
has had during City’s spell of domestic dominance and will be missed by the
Etihad faithful upon his departure.
On returning to London to play for Chelsea, Sterling said
about the move via Chelsea’s website: ‘First and foremost, it’s a pleasure to
be here.
‘I’ve obviously achieved a lot in my career so far, but
there is still so much more to achieve and I’m really looking forward to doing
that in a Chelsea shirt, under Thomas’s management.
‘London is my home and where it all started for me, and it’s
amazing I now have the opportunity to play in front of friends and family week
in, week out at Stamford Bridge. I’m really looking forward to meeting the fans
there soon.
‘I do want to take the opportunity to thank Todd, Behdad,
the ownership group, Thomas, and all involved in the process of getting me
here.
‘I can’t wait to get going now and continue to do my talking
on the pitch.’
This is, without doubt, a great signing for Chelsea as the
Blues add a proven Premier League winger to their squad. The move also benefits
Sterling who was seeing his influence at Man City dwindle but can now get more
game time whilst still challenging to add a fifth English crown to his
collection.