Raheem Sterling's next club choice is obvious as Chelsea winger departs by mutual consent

Raheem Sterling has departed Chelsea by mutual consent, after reports broke on Wednesday afternoon that the winger has agreed to have his contract terminated at Stamford Bridge over 18 months after his last competitive appearance for the club.

Sterling trained separately from the first-team squad throughout this campaign after being named a member of Enzo Maresca’s ill-fated ‘bomb squad’, and the arrival of new head coach Liam Rosenior ultimately did not help matters as the 31-year-old forward has now departed the west London club.

The former Manchester City star signed for the Blues for £47.5 million in 2022 and was one of the first marquee signings of the new ownership. Such was the headline nature of his arrival, Sterling was given massive wages which have contributed to his difficulty in securing a move away from Stamford Bridge. But with his contract ripped up and Sterling now a free agent, he is free to move and begin a new chapter this month. We had a look at where he might end up…

Where could Raheem Sterling go next after his Chelsea departure?

Sterling has long expressed a desire to remain in London, where his family are settled. That was part of the reasoning for his loan move to Arsenal last season and will remain at the forefront of his thinking wherever possible, though reports by BBC Sport do suggest he is “open” to a move outside the capital.

While there is something somewhat admirable about Sterling prioritising his family life over the potential of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia or the MLS, it does narrow down the options available to him - though a few potential suitors in London do remain.

West Ham have been linked with the four-time Premier League winner in the past and had a loan bid rejected at the beginning of this month according to reports by the Standard, amidst the belief that both Sterling and Chelsea only wanted a permanent move or a loan with an unconditional obligation to buy. The Hammers’ recent signing of Adama Traoré may lessen the odds that they return to the table for Sterling, while it is unclear whether the player would have wanted to sign for a club deep in relegation trouble in any case.

Crystal Palace have also been linked and could do with another option in attack, while even Italian champions Napoli have been touted for a move according to Fabrizio Romano. We feel Sterling’s ideal next destination is fairly clear, though, and it would not require him to travel very far at all.

Fulham would be the ideal next move for Sterling

Sterling is believed to be keen on a move to Fulham as per the Standard’s report, and it is easy to see why. The Cottagers have been linked with the winger over the past couple of transfer windows and if they were to come forward and solidify their interest, Craven Cottage might just be the perfect place for Sterling to get his glittering career back on track.

Not only is Fulham in west London, which is perfect for Sterling in a family sense, the Cottagers have made an impressive habit out of reinventing the careers of players unwanted at the traditional bigger clubs over recent years. Ex-Arsenal duo Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe are obvious examples, while Raúl Jiménez and Willian rediscovered their top form well into their 30s at the Cottage and former Liverpool starlet Harry Wilson has now grown into one of the most in-form players in the country. Furthermore, there is undoubtedly a great atmosphere around the club at present, with an outside shot at challenging for Europe still a possibility.

Wilson’s future at Fulham beyond this term is currently uncertain and this may open up a place in the squad for Sterling, who would seamlessly fit into the age profile of one of the older squads in the Premier League – unlike at Stamford Bridge, where he was the only player on the books over the age of 30 amidst BlueCo’s youthful business model.

It remains unclear whether Fulham will make a firm approach for free agent Sterling this month, while it is likely that the 82-cap England international would need to accept a severe pay-cut on his previous £325,000-per-week wages if they did. While a decision over his Chelsea future has now been reached, uncertainty over his next destination remains – but Craven Cottage might be the ideal place for Sterling to find a new home.