Sterling’s Chelsea Exit: No Return Under Enzo Maresca, Training Away from First Team
Raheem Sterling Completely Excluded from Chelsea’s First Team Under Enzo Maresca
Raheem Sterling has been officially omitted from Chelsea’s first-team squad list as new manager Enzo Maresca makes clear that the forward is no longer part of his plans for the upcoming season. The 30-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Arsenal, is set for a permanent transfer away from Stamford Bridge.
Sterling’s move to Chelsea from Manchester City, just three years ago for nearly £50 million, was initially promising, but his time at the club quickly soured. After a poor stint that saw him score only once in 27 matches during his loan at Arsenal, Chelsea are now actively seeking to offload him during the summer transfer window.
As part of the squad overhaul, Sterling no longer has a profile or photo on the club’s official site, and he is currently training separately from the first team along with other players deemed surplus to requirements. The club has recently signed forwards Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, further pushing Sterling down the pecking order.
Other players without profiles, including Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu, are expected to join Burnley on loan, with fees around £20 million each. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has also been linked with a move to Everton, who have begun talks over a deal worth an initial £25 million, after he made just two Premier League starts last season.
Several squad members, such as Alfie Gilchrist and Axel Disasi, remain on the fringes of the first team, with some likely heading out before the transfer window closes. Currently, Chelsea officially lists 31 players as part of their first-team squad, despite a significant overhaul aimed at trimming the squad and raising funds for new signings.
Official Training and Squad Status
Sterling is expected to continue training away from the main group at Stamford Bridge, alongside other outcasts like Ben Chilwell. Meanwhile, some notable players, such as Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk, might also leave before the transfer deadline. Mudryk remains officially charged by the FA for a doping violation, with potential bans looming.