Raheem Sterling potential destinations - ranked

Thanks to Chelsea having over 40 players in their senior squad heading into the 2024/25 Premier League season, there was always going to be a few matchday squad casualties for their opening weekend clash with Manchester City.

One of those casualties happened to be the highest-paid player at the club, Raheem Sterling.

With no clear route to first-team football for the 29-year-old at Stamford Bridge, especially when Chelsea are signing even more forwards in the shape of Joao Felix, it looks like Sterling will be better served taking his talents to a new club this summer.

To give him a helping hand, we at 90min have assessed his options.

5. Crystal Palace

Playing alongside Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta and under manager Oliver Glasner looks like a great time.

You only need to have quick look at Michael Olise's end of 2023/24 season stats to see that.

There's a few reasons why this move is at the bottom of our list though:

1) It's hard to imagine Crystal Palace paying Sterling's bumper wage packet.

2) Glasner already has his perfect right-sided player in Daichi Kamada, with the former Eintracht Frankfurt favourite signing earlier in the summer.

Fit? 3/10

4. Fenerbahce

Sterling was linked with a move to Fenerbahce way before he was excluded from the matchday squad to face Manchester City this past weekend.

The club forking out for a big-name player to appease their new big-name manager Jose Mourinho certainly does scan, but failure to find safe passage through the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds probably makes it impossible.

Fit? 4/10

3. Juventus

Rumours have swirled in recent weeks regarding a potential 'out-of-favour wide forward' exchange which would see Sterling join Juventus and Federico Chiesa join Chelsea.

In theory, that makes sense.

In practice, when Juventus are notably hard up for cash and would never be able to afford Sterling's wages, it doesn't.

Plus, Juve have their eyes set on signing a cheaper option in Nicolas Gonzalez from Fiorentina instead.

Fit? 5/10

2. Saudi Pro League

From a club that couldn't afford Sterling's wages, to a whole league of clubs that could double them.

If money is what Sterling is after, then the Saudi Pro League is the move for him.

And honestly, with the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic reportedly on over £400k per week, we wouldn't blame him for moving for the money either. It's an insane amount of money after all.

Fit? 7/10

1. Aston Villa

Having missed on signing Joao Felix (to Chelsea, no less), Aston Villa could consider signing Sterling to fill the void on the right of their attack.

And, at this point in his career, it seems like a pretty perfect move for Sterling if concrete talks commence between the clubs.

90min understands Villa have held internal discussions about Sterling, though a deal has not advanced just yet.

The opportunity to join a UEFA Champions League club where he'd be treated like a star player would certainly be hard to turn down.

Fit? 8/10

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