Raheem Sterling has left Manchester City after seven years at the Etihad Stadium. The 27-year-old sealed a £45m move to Chelsea on Wednesday and will now spend the next five years at Stamford Bridge.
Raheem Sterling has joined Chelsea, bringing an end to a magnificent seven-year stay with City.
Best of luck, @sterling7 💙#ManCity
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 13, 2022
Paddy Kenny believes the transfer is a mistake on Pep Guardiola’s part, as he’s lost a prolific forward while strengthening a title rival. Sterling scored 131 goals with 94 assists from 337 appearances at City, so Chelsea have a player who could make them a genuine title contender next season.
Kenny told Football Insider: “I think it is a really shrewd move from Chelsea. He is a very experienced player and he has got better while he has been at Man City. He has turned into an all-around brilliant player.
“You know what you are going to get from him. His finishing has also improved over the last few years. It’s a great move for Chelsea and I think it’s a mistake from City.
“It could come back to haunt them if he kicks on at Chelsea and does as well there as he did at Man City.” Before joining the Londoners, Sterling was in the last year of his deal at the Etihad and was unwilling to put pen to paper on an extension, so City had little choice but to cash in rather than lose him for nothing next year.
Guardiola is taking a big risk, however, as Chelsea have strengthened many areas of the squad and are sure to improve upon last season’s third-place finish. Sterling boasts double figures for Premier League goals in each of the last five seasons too, so Chelsea have signed a reliable scorer.
To lose Sterling and Gabriel Jesus in the same transfer window is a blow for City, even if they signed Erling Haaland.
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