Raheem Sterling: Chelsea to terminate £325,000-per-week contract after disastrous spell

Sterling has been training separately from the Chelsea main squad since the start of the season, and could finalise his departure from the club in the next few days.

As Liam Rosenior's team prepares for a Champions League clash against Napoli in Italy, it marks the club's 100th match since Sterling last featured in a Premier League game against Bournemouth in May 2024.

Both Chelsea and Sterling are reportedly seeking a resolution, and according to the Daily Mail, this could involve contract termination.

Sterling, now 31, was deemed surplus to requirements first by former manager Enzo Maresca and now by his successor, Rosenior. This followed a loan spell at Arsenal last season.

When questioned about Sterling's future during a pre-match press conference in Naples, Rosenior remained tight-lipped.

"I've said what I've had to say on Raheem," he stated. "He's a player I have massive respect for.

"Huge respect for him as a person and what he's achieved in the game. Now is not the right time to speak about his situation."

Sterling joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022 for £47.5 million, signing a five-year contract.

He was the first major acquisition under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership, seen at the time as a significant statement of intent.

Since then, the club has shifted its recruitment strategy, favoring incentive-based contracts for new signings.

The winger is the most prominent member of a group of players, sometimes dubbed the 'bomb squad', who have been training away from the senior team.

This group has also included Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Alfie Gilchrist, most of whom have since left the club.