Raheem Sterling Signs with Van Persie's Feyenoord

Sterling joins Feyenoord in shock move

England winger joins Dutch giants managed by Robin van Persie after Chelsea release. Raheem Sterling completes surprise move to Feyenoord until 2025/26 season end.

“I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their Head Coaches to better understand the role...”

Raheem Sterling has made a surprise move to Feyenoord, joining the Dutch club until the end of the 2025/26 season. This comes after he was released by Chelsea on January 28th, having not played a single game for the Blues all season.

The 31-year-old winger, who has represented England 82 times, will work under former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who's currently Feyenoord's manager. Sterling expressed excitement about this new chapter, saying, “Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me - and one I'm ready to embrace ”

“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 on the club website.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Raheem Sterling = 🟥⬜️⬛️ pic.twitter.com/8O6baKjh0a

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) February 12, 2026

“I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their Head Coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me and ensure that I can add real value in this next chapter. Having spoken in great detail with CEO Dennis te Kloese and Robin (van Persie), I'm confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team.”

Feyenoord, under Robin van Persie, has been facing a tough run, winning only 6 out of their last 19 games across all competitions since late October. Despite this slump, they're still holding onto second place in the Eredivisie, although they're 17 points behind leaders PSV.

Feyenoord have signed four-time Premier League winner Raheem Sterling.

The England international, who has represented his country 82 times, has signed an agreement with Feyenoord until the end of the 2025/26 season.

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) February 12, 2026

The team's recent struggles have sparked concerns, with some fans calling for Van Persie's resignation. He's been criticized for his tactics and player management, with star player Quinten Timber even speaking out against him after a recent defeat. Van Persie, however, remains defiant, stating he's the right man for the job.