Raheem Sterling Joins Arsenal on Loan from Chelsea in Last-Minute Deal

Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has signed a season-long loan deal with Arsenal. The transfer was completed just after the Premier League deadline through a deal sheet. Sterling joins Arsenal following an exclusion from Chelsea's squad and a history of success in the Premier League.

In a dramatic last-minute move, Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has joined local rivals Arsenal on a season-long loan. The transfer, which hinged on a late-submitted deal sheet, concluded after the Premier League's summer transfer window officially closed on August 30.

Arsenal confirmed the 29-year-old winger's arrival in a statement: 'Raheem Sterling has joined us on a season-long loan from Chelsea. Everyone at Arsenal welcomes Raheem to the club. The transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.' Sterling was surprisingly left out of Chelsea's squad for the season opener against Manchester City, despite participating in every pre-season game.

Head coach Enzo Maresca had hailed Sterling as one of Chelsea's 'most important players' during the pre-season. However, Maresca later admitted he preferred a 'different kind of winger.' Sterling, who was noteworthy in Todd Boehly's early tenure as Chelsea's owner after arriving in 2022, had not featured in any match-day squads this season before the move.

Sterling boasts an impressive career, with four Premier League titles and five Football League Cups. He has made 379 appearances in the top flight, scoring 123 goals and providing 63 assists. He was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 2018/19 and was selected for the PFA's Team of the Year the same season.

At Arsenal, Sterling will reunite with head coach Mikel Arteta, with whom he worked at Manchester City. Arteta has expressed strong feelings about the winger, describing their time together as 'exceptional.' Raheem has also been a significant figure for England, earning 82 caps and playing a crucial role in their Euro 2020 runner-up finish.

(With inputs from agencies.)