Premier League Icon Hopeful Over Serie A Move Despite Recent Struggles
The career of Raheem Sterling is set to take another turn as the former Manchester City star finds a new home.
Louis Fargher
Updated on 05 February 2026
Raheem Sterling is closing in on a move to Serie A after the Englishman brought an end to his nightmare run with Chelsea.
Raheem Sterling Agrees Serie A Move
Napoli are edging closer to an agreement with Raheem Sterling over a transfer for the remainder of this season, as the English international is now one of the most high-profile free agents available.
The 31-year-old has endured a difficult few years with Chelsea after joining the club in July 2022, as Sterling was exiled into the ‘bomb squad’ at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling has not made a single appearance in the 2025/26 season and was forced to take part in isolated training sessions as Chelsea looked to force him out of the club.
The two parties managed to come to an agreement in the final stages of the January transfer window and Sterling is now available in the free agent market.
Napoli and Juventus are reportedly looking to bring Sterling to Italy and are ironing out details over the player’s salary, as the Brit was said to be earning over €370,000 per week.
However, Sterling faces a race against time to complete a move in Europe as the deadline in squad changes for European competition is at midnight on February 5th.
This is not an issue for Napoli after their catastrophic exit from the Champions League, but Juventus will be aware of the implications if they miss the deadline.
The former Manchester City star also has a plethora of options, as West Ham, Fulham and Burnley are looking to keep Sterling in the Premier League – which is reportedly his preferred option.
Chelsea Pay Sterling Huge Termination Fee
Sterling’s time with Chelsea was nothing short of a disaster and the Englishman failed to meet expectations at Stamford Bridge – scoring just 19 goals in 81 appearances.
The 31-year-old had a clear dispute with Enzo Maresca which saw Sterling join Arsenal on loan for the 2024/25 season, where he also failed to perform.
After months on the sidelines, Sterling and Chelsea mutually agreed to terminate his deal in the English capital and the 31-year-old waived a percentage of the remaining 18 months of wages he was owed.
Sterling would have earned between €25-€32m during this period and the former Manchester City star is expected to receive at least €20m from the Blues.
Financial implications have surrounded Sterling’s name in recent seasons and this will not be good news for Juventus, as the Bianconeri are targeting Victor Osimhen.
Napoli will also walk away from any negotiations that make Sterling the highest paid player at the club and the former Chelsea star will need to take a considerable pay-cut at his next destination.
Louis Fargher
Louis has been an avid soccer enthusiast for multiple years and boasts knowledge across several leagues in Europe - including Serie A. Louis holds a degree in Soccer Journalism and has produced content for multiple clubs in the United Kingdom.
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