Chelsea attacker Raheem Sterling has explained his decision to move on loan to Arsenal this summer. Sterling mentioned that his desire to join Arsenal stemmed from the strong unity within Mikel Arteta’s squad and their determination to succeed.
The England forward made a surprising last-minute switch between the two London clubs during the final hours of the European transfer window. The former Liverpool and Manchester City player will now spend the remainder of the 2024-25 season with Arsenal.
Sterling was excluded from Chelsea’s first team by manager Enzo Maresca.
Maresca, who took charge at Chelsea after departing Leicester City earlier this summer, made it clear both privately and publicly that Sterling no longer had a future at Stamford Bridge. The 29-year-old quickly sought a new club and secured a late transfer within London.
In a video posted on Arsenal’s social media, Sterling addressed the situation: “People like to talk, don’t they? Well, so do I. And I’ll say this, you’re about to see the best of me.
“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s really exciting. I’m thrilled.
“We left it late, but it was something I was hoping for. Looking at everything, I thought, ‘This is the perfect fit for me,’ and I’m overjoyed we made it happen.
“I spoke with [sporting director] Edu and told him you can see the real unity since Mikel took over, and you can see the journey the team is on. You can sense the hunger, and I keep emphasizing, the togetherness is something I’m eager to be part of.”
