Raheem Sterling Player Profile: A Loan Move That Hasn’t Gone to Plan at Arsenal

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Raheem Sterling Player Profile – Arsenal’s loan signing from Chelsea, Raheem Sterling, has struggled to make an impact in the 2024/25 season. With zero Premier League goals and just one assist, the once-prolific winger has found it difficult to fit into Mikel Arteta’s system. Can he turn things around, or will his time at Arsenal go down as a failed experiment? Let’s analyse his season so far.

Raheem Sterling Player Profile

Raheem Sterling Player Profile

  • Full Name: Raheem Shaquille Sterling
  • Date of Birth: December 8, 1994 (30 years old)
  • Nationality: English
  • Height: 1.70m (5 ft 7 in)
  • Preferred Foot: Right
  • Position: Winger (Left/Right)
  • Current Club: Arsenal (on loan from Chelsea)
  • Loan Duration: 2024/25 season (No option to buy)
  • Chelsea Contract Expiry: June 2027
  • Previous Clubs:

Raheem Sterling’s Journey to Arsenal: From Young Star to Loan Struggles

Before his difficult loan spell at Arsenal in 2024/25, Raheem Sterling built a career as one of England’s most recognizable wingers. From his breakout years at Liverpool to winning multiple Premier League titles with Manchester City, his journey has been full of highs and lows. Let’s take a look at his career before arriving at the Emirates.

🏃 Early Beginnings – Queens Park Rangers (2003–2010)

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Raheem Sterling moved to England at the age of five and joined the Queens Park Rangers (QPR) academy soon after. He quickly gained a reputation as a fearless dribbler with blistering pace, attracting attention from top Premier League clubs.

By 2010, at just 15 years old, Sterling had already been identified as one of England’s most exciting youth prospects. This led to Liverpool signing him for an initial £600,000, a fee that could rise to £5 million based on performance-related bonuses.

🔴 Liverpool Breakthrough (2010–2015)

Sterling joined Liverpool’s youth setup in 2010, and within two years, he was fast-tracked into the first team by manager Kenny Dalglish.

Despite his rise, contract disputes and friction with Liverpool’s management led to a controversial £49 million move to Manchester City in 2015—a British record for a young player at the time.

🔵 Manchester City Dominance (2015–2022)

Under Pep Guardiola, Sterling transformed from a raw winger into a goal-scoring machine, playing a vital role in four Premier League title wins.

🏆 Trophy Haul at Man City:

💡 Career Highlights at City:

  • 100+ goals for the club, becoming one of their top scorers.
  • Named FWA Footballer of the Year (2019) for his performances.
  • Excelled in Guardiola’s tactical system, thriving as a goal-scoring winger.

Despite his success, the arrival of Jack Grealish in 2021 and City’s evolution to a more fluid attack saw Sterling’s role reduced. By 2022, City were open to letting him leave, leading to a move to Chelsea.

🔵 Chelsea Struggles (2022–2024)

Sterling joined Chelsea in July 2022 for £47.5 million, expected to be the main attacking threat under Thomas Tuchel. However, instability at Chelsea—including multiple managerial changes (Tuchel, Potter, Lampard, Pochettino, Maresca)—meant Sterling never fully settled at Stamford Bridge.

⚠️ Challenges at Chelsea:

  • Inconsistent team selection and multiple changes in tactics.
  • Struggled with injuries and form, finishing with only 9 league goals in two seasons.
  • Fell out of favour under Enzo Maresca in 2024, leading to Arsenal’s loan move.

By the summer of 2024, Chelsea was looking to offload his wages, and Arsenal stepped in with a season-long loan deal, hoping Sterling could reignite his career at the Emirates.

⏳ Summary Before Arsenal

From a highly-rated QPR talent to a Premier League champion at Man City, Sterling’s career has seen incredible highs. However, since leaving City, his form has declined, with disappointing spells at Chelsea and now Arsenal.

At 30 years old, Sterling is facing one of the toughest periods of his career—can he turn it around before his loan expires?

🏹 Loan Move to Arsenal: A Gamble That Hasn’t Paid Off

🔄 The Transfer – A Last-Minute Loan Deal

Raheem Sterling’s season-long loan move to Arsenal was completed on August 31, 2024, in the final hours of the summer transfer window. After falling out of favor under Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, the club was eager to offload his wages, leading to Arsenal taking a chance on the experienced winger.

🔹 Transfer Details:

  • Loan Duration: 2024/25 season (No option to buy)
  • Wages: Arsenal covering 60% of his £325,000 per week salary
  • Chelsea’s Stance: Wanted to move him on due to poor form and squad rebuilding
  • Arteta’s Expectations: Viewed Sterling as a short-term option to provide depth and experience

At the time, many believed Sterling’s arrival could be a smart, low-risk move for Arsenal, especially given their need for squad rotation in a packed fixture schedule with Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cup competitions.

📉 A Disastrous Start at Arsenal

Sterling’s time at Arsenal has been nothing short of a disappointment. Instead of reviving his career, he has struggled with form, confidence, and tactical fit in Mikel Arteta’s system.

🚨 Sterling’s Arsenal Stats (as of March 7, 2025)

CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssists
Premier League1201
Champions League500
FA Cup100
EFL Cup411
Total2212

🔻 What’s Gone Wrong?

  • ❌ No Premier League goals in 12 appearances – A huge concern for an attacker.
  • ❌ Lack of impact in big games – Invisible in matches against title rivals.
  • ❌ Below-par work rate – Failing to adapt to Arteta’s pressing system.
  • ❌ Poor final-third decision-making – Wastes possession and makes ineffective passes.
  • ❌ Struggles with confidence – Hesitation in key moments, looks out of place.

His only goal so far came in an EFL Cup tie against lower-league opposition, but in the Premier League and Champions League, he has offered little to no attacking threat.

🤔 Why Hasn’t It Worked?

1️⃣ Tactical Mismatch in Arteta’s System

Sterling thrived at Manchester City in Pep Guardiola’s structured attacking setup, where his role was heavily defined, and he benefited from elite playmakers around him.

At Arsenal, wingers are expected to press aggressively, make quick decisions, and contribute in tight spaces—areas where Sterling has struggled. His inability to consistently track back or press effectively has made him a defensive liability, leading to reduced playing time.

2️⃣ Loss of Confidence & Poor Decision-Making

Sterling’s confidence appears to be at an all-time low, affecting his decision-making in front of goal. He often hesitates in attacking situations, leading to wasted chances or ineffective passes.

His inability to convert one-on-one opportunities and inconsistent dribbling success has frustrated both Arteta and Arsenal fans.

3️⃣ Fan & Pundit Backlash

  • Gary Neville: “Sterling looks like a player going through the motions. He isn’t Arsenal quality right now.”
  • Arsenal Fans: Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly negative, with many questioning why the club signed him in the first place.
  • Diminishing Role: Reports suggest Arteta is losing patience, and Sterling could be benched permanently if his form doesn’t improve.

⏳ What’s Next for Sterling?

🔴 Can He Save His Arsenal Career?

With three months left in the season, Sterling is running out of time to prove himself. He needs a major turnaround to avoid becoming one of Arsenal’s worst loan signings in recent history.

🔹 What He Must Improve:
✅ Regain confidence and sharpness in front of goal.
✅ Adapt to Arteta’s pressing system.
✅ Improve decision-making and ball retention.

🔵 Will He Return to Chelsea?

Unless his performances drastically improve, it is highly unlikely Arsenal will consider making the move permanent.

🔻 Likely Scenario:

  • Sterling returns to Chelsea in the summer, where his future remains uncertain.
  • Chelsea may try to offload him permanently, but his high wages could make finding a buyer difficult.
  • A potential move to MLS, Saudi Arabia, or a mid-table Premier League club could be on the cards.

💭 Final Verdict: A Failed Loan Signing?

Sterling’s Arsenal loan spell has been hugely underwhelming, and unless he turns things around quickly, his time at the Emirates will be remembered as a failed gamble.

❌ Rating So Far: 3/10 – Largely ineffective, offers little going forward.
🚨 Future Uncertain – Likely heading back to Chelsea in the summer.

📊 Raheem Sterling Stats: Club & Career Breakdown

Raheem Sterling has played for four clubs throughout his professional career: Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal (loan). Below is a breakdown of his statistics (all competitions) at each club, highlighting his appearances, goals, and assists.

🔴 Liverpool (2010–2015)

SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssists
2011/12300
2012/133626
2013/1438109
2014/15521110
Total1292325

🔵 Manchester City (2015–2022)

SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssists
2015/16471110
2016/17471019
2017/18462317
2018/19512518
2019/2052319
2020/21491412
2021/2247179
Total33913194

🔵 Chelsea (2022–2024)

SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssists
2022/233894
2023/2443117
Total812011

🔴 Arsenal (Loan: 2024–2025)

SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssists
2024/25*2212
Total2212

(As of March 7, 2025 – still ongoing.)

❌ What’s Gone Wrong for Raheem Sterling at Arsenal?

Raheem Sterling’s loan spell at Arsenal was meant to revive his career, but instead, it has highlighted his decline as a top-level attacker. His performances have been uninspiring, with fans and pundits questioning his attitude, confidence, and ability to contribute at the highest level. Here’s a breakdown of what’s gone wrong for Sterling at the Emirates.

😨 1️⃣ Lacks Confidence – Even Missed a Crucial Penalty vs Girona

Sterling’s lack of belief in himself is evident in his performances. Once known for his fearless dribbling and attacking directness, he now hesitates in key moments, often choosing the safe option instead of taking risks.

🔻 Low point of his Arsenal spell:

  • In Champions League Match week 8, Arsenal were desperate for a result against Girona, but Sterling missed a penalty in a crucial moment.
  • The miss summed up his season—a player completely devoid of self-confidence and sharpness.
  • His head dropped immediately after, and his overall performance in the match was uninspiring and passive.

This lack of belief is impacting his game across all competitions, making him a shadow of the player that thrived under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

🏃 2️⃣ Lack of Work Rate – Looks Like He’s Not Putting in Any Effort

One of the biggest criticisms of Sterling this season is his complete lack of intensity and effort. Arsenal’s system under Mikel Arteta relies on:
✅ Aggressive pressing
✅ Defensive commitment from wide players
✅ High-energy off-the-ball movement

🔻 Sterling, however, has shown the opposite:

  • No defensive contribution – Rarely tracks back to help his full-back.
  • Lack of pressing intensity – Doesn’t close down opposition defenders with any urgency.
  • Jogging through games – At times, appears disinterested, offering no energy to Arsenal’s attack.

His low work rate stands out even more when compared to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard, who all press relentlessly and fight for every ball.

💬 Fan Reaction: Many Arsenal supporters have lost patience, criticizing his casual approach and lack of desire to fight for his place in the team.

⚽ 3️⃣ Poor End Product – A Non-Threat in the Final Third

Sterling’s lack of goals and assists this season isn’t just bad—it’s his worst attacking return in over a decade.

🔻 Attacking struggles at Arsenal:

  • Dribbling past players is rare – And when he does, his final pass or shot is weak and ineffective.
  • Looks lost in the final third – Lacks sharpness, decision-making is poor.
  • No goal threat – Fails to get into goal-scoring positions, and when he does, he lacks composure.

📊 2024/25 Stats (as of March 7, 2025):

CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssists
Premier League1201
Champions League500
FA Cup110
EFL Cup411
Total2212

For a highly-paid winger, those numbers are unacceptable. Sterling simply isn’t doing enough to justify his place in the squad.

🔮 Final Verdict: Can He Save His Arsenal Career?

At 30 years old, Sterling should be one of Arsenal’s leaders, yet he looks like a player with nothing left to give.

🔴 What needs to change?

  • Regain confidence – Needs a breakthrough performance to get back on track.
  • Increase work rate – If he doesn’t press, Arteta will drop him permanently.
  • Improve decision-making in attack – Stop hesitating and be more decisive in the final third.

Time is running out. Unless Sterling drastically improves, this loan will be remembered as one of Arsenal’s worst in recent history.

🔮 What’s Next for Raheem Sterling? A Career at a Crossroad

Raheem Sterling’s loan spell at Arsenal has been a failure, and unless there is a drastic turnaround in form, the club will not be bringing him back. Arsenal are pushing to be Premier League title contenders, and Sterling no longer looks like a player at that level.

With his time at Arsenal likely coming to an end, Sterling now faces a major career dilemma—one that could define how and where he finishes his playing days.

🚪 No Arsenal Future – Where Does He Go from Here?

Sterling will return to Chelsea in the summer of 2025, but his future at Stamford Bridge is highly uncertain.

🔹 Why Chelsea Want to Sell Him:

  • He is not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.
  • Chelsea want to free up their wage bill.
  • At £325,000 per week, he is one of their highest-paid players, and they are unlikely to keep him on those terms if he’s not contributing.

However, Chelsea won’t want to let him go for free, meaning they will demand a decent transfer fee—but here’s the problem:

🔻 Few Clubs Will Pay Big for Him
At 30 years old, with declining form and massive wages, many clubs will not value Sterling as highly as Chelsea do.

  • Premier League mid-table clubs might be interested, but they won’t match his wages or pay a big transfer fee.
  • European clubs could be an option, but with Sterling’s recent poor form, most won’t take the financial risk.
  • MLS, Saudi Pro League, or Turkey could be fallback options, but would Sterling accept leaving European football?

Right now, no elite-level team will come knocking, meaning Sterling faces a tough decision about his future since all he has known is the top level.

💰 High Wages = Career Standstill?

Sterling may need to accept a major wage cut if he wants a fresh start—but will he?

🔻 Possible Scenarios:
1️⃣ He refuses a wage cut & runs down his contract at Chelsea (until 2027).

  • This would mean playing little to no football over the next two years.
  • He risks falling down the footballing pyramid and becoming irrelevant.
  • Could end up like Dele Alli or Jack Wilshere, once-promising stars who faded quickly.

2️⃣ He takes another loan move—but who will take the risk?

  • Given how poorly he’s performed at Arsenal, very few clubs will be interested in another short-term loan.
  • If Chelsea subsidize his wages, a mid-table Premier League team might take a chance—but that’s far from guaranteed.

3️⃣ He lowers his wage demands & signs for a new club.

  • This is the best option for him to revive his career, but will he accept a pay cut?
  • If he wants regular football, he must realize he is no longer a £325k-per-week player.

😳 The Sad Beginning of the End?

If Sterling doesn’t change something fast, this Arsenal loan spell could mark the beginning of the end of his career.

❌ He’s running out of chances.
❌ His stock is at an all-time low.
❌ No big club will come calling unless his form dramatically improves.

If he fails to secure a move or improve his performances, he could fade out of football entirely—or even retire earlier than expected.

🔴 Final Verdict: Without a massive turnaround, Sterling risks becoming a forgotten player, stuck in limbo, earning high wages but playing no football. His next decision will be the most important of his career.

🛒 Raheem Sterling Merchandise – Perfect for Arsenal & Football Fans!

Looking for Raheem Sterling memorabilia? Whether you’re an Arsenal supporter, a football collector, or searching for the perfect gift, check out these top picks!

🎨 Watercolour Print – Raheem Sterling Arsenal Art

✅ Stunning watercolour artwork of Sterling in an Arsenal kit.
✅ Perfect gift for Gunners fans & football lovers.
✅ No frame included – ready for your custom display.

🛒 Buy Here

🖼️ HWC Trading – Raheem Sterling Signed Print (A4 Size)

✅ High-quality printed autograph of Raheem Sterling.
✅ Ideal for collectors & Arsenal supporters.
✅ A4 size – easy to frame & display.

🛒 Buy Here

⚽ SoccerStarz – England Raheem Sterling Figure (2022 Sculpt)

✅ Detailed mini figurine of Sterling in England kit.
✅ Perfect for football fans & collectors.
✅ Compact & officially licensed.

🛒 Buy Here

💡 Great for gifts, collections, or football-themed décor! Get yours today and celebrate Sterling’s career! 🏆🔥

⚖️ Final Verdict: A Failed Loan – 2/10

Raheem Sterling’s loan spell at Arsenal has been nothing short of a disaster. Instead of reigniting his career, he has further cemented his decline, struggling to make any meaningful impact in a team competing for the Premier League title.

🔻 Why It’s a 2/10 Loan Move:

❌ Zero Premier League goals in 12 appearances – Unacceptable for an experienced winger.
❌ Missed a crucial penalty vs Girona in the Champions League – Summed up his lack of confidence.
❌ No work rate or intensity – Jogging through games, failing to press or track back.
❌ Ineffective in attack – Even when he dribbles past defenders, he offers no final product.
❌ Arsenal won’t bring him back – Simply not at the level needed for a title-challenging team.

✅ The only positive is that Arsenal didn’t sign him permanently, but even as a loan move, it provided no value to the squad.

🛑 FINAL RATING: 2/10

Unless Sterling somehow turns things around in the final months of the season, this will be remembered as one of Arsenal’s worst loan signings in recent years. His future is now uncertain, and without a significant change, this may have marked the beginning of the end of his top-level career.

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