Raheem Sterling’s Arsenal Link Despite Chelsea Return

EPL Index

·1 giugno 2025

Raheem Sterling’s Arsenal Link Despite Chelsea Return

Raheem Sterling’s Chelsea Return Casts Spotlight on Arsenal Link

Raheem Sterling is expected to return to Chelsea this summer following an underwhelming loan spell at Arsenal, but his ties to north London may linger longer than his playing career suggests. While his on-pitch impact at the Emirates Stadium failed to ignite, the 30-year-old England international has made a more personal and lasting connection to the red half of the capital.

Sterling’s Arsenal Stint Ends Quietly

Sterling’s reunion with Mikel Arteta, his former coach at Manchester City, came with promise but ultimately fell flat. The winger managed just one goal in 28 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal last season, struggling for consistency and form throughout the campaign. By the season’s closing stages, he found himself largely out of favour.

OneFootball Video

Despite the disappointing numbers, Arteta was keen to acknowledge Sterling’s contribution — however limited — following Arsenal’s 2–1 win over Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season.

“It was important to win it,” Arteta said. “It was important as well to say goodbye to a few players who have left our football club, to say thank you for their contribution.“Some of them, like Kieran [Tierney], they’ve been on this journey for six years with us. Jorginho, we’re trying to hug him, Neto and Raheem as well. So, there are a few players that I had the duty to say thank you to. I think we all have and we wish them the best for the next season.”

It has since been confirmed that Arsenal will not pursue a permanent deal for Sterling, and Chelsea, under new manager Enzo Maresca, are not expected to reintegrate him into the first-team setup.

Photo IMAGO

Family Ties Keep Sterling Connected to Arsenal

Although his time on the pitch at Arsenal may be over, Sterling’s name is set to remain linked with the club in a more familial sense. It is understood that his son, Thiago, has joined Arsenal’s academy and will be part of the U9 squad — the youngest competitive age group within the club’s development structure.

A photo circulating on social media shows Sterling alongside his partner and two sons, proudly holding an Arsenal shirt emblazoned with “Thiago” on the back. It marks a symbolic connection between the Sterling family and the Gunners, ensuring that the winger will likely be a familiar face around the club’s Hale End academy, even if his boots now belong elsewhere.

Chelsea Future Remains Unclear

Sterling’s next move remains unresolved. With Maresca set to reshape the Chelsea squad in his image, there is little expectation that the former Manchester City star will be central to the Blues’ plans for 2025/26. His high wages, combined with a diminishing role at both Chelsea and Arsenal, suggest his next step may lie away from the Premier League altogether.

For a player who scored 131 goals in 339 games for City, winning four Premier League titles, this stage of his career raises questions. Can Sterling rekindle the form that made him one of England’s most dangerous wide players, or has his prime already passed?

Final Whistle at Arsenal, But New Chapter for Sterling’s Family

Though Raheem Sterling’s brief Arsenal spell has come to a close, his family’s connection to the club is only just beginning. His son’s development at Hale End will no doubt be monitored closely, and with Sterling’s own presence around the academy, Arsenal may yet prove a backdrop to the next chapter in the winger’s football journey — if not on the pitch, then certainly from the touchline.