RAHEEM STERLING is running out of time to find himself the chance to play Champions League football this season.
Former ace Sterling, 31, finally tied his frayed bonds with last week, leaving by mutual consent 21 months after his final appearance for the Blues.
Raheem Sterling has until Thursday to find a new club if he wants to play in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
The winger finally left Chelsea after 21 months without playing for the club but is up against the clock to fulfil his aimsCredit: AP
The decision closes this evening [Monday].
But regulations mean clubs left in the knock-out stages of the three competitions have to confirm their full list of squad players by midnight on Thursday.
Those regulations allow clubs to make a maximum of three changes from the squads that were announced for the initial league phase of the competitions after the closure of the summer window.
Even if Sterling was to join a European club, he could not be added to their Uefa roster after the break.
And it adds to the pressure on Sterling to find a new home to play if he wants to have a role at an elite club this season.
Sterling has played football for four Prem sides in his career at , Manchester City, Chelsea and last term’s loan spell at .
He is yet to win the competition, with his only Final appearance in City’s defeat by Chelsea in 2021.
Indeed, the last of his came for Chelsea, the opener in a 2-0 home win over Borussia Dortmund in March 2023.
but he only played six times.
Those appearances clocked just 300 minutes and two assists.
Sterling’s time at Stamford Bridge is over
Both of the assists came in an effective last-16 dead rubber with Arsenal already 7-1 up on aggregate.
He did not play again in either the quarter-finals or semis as Arsenal beat Real Madrid but lost to PSG.
In fact, Sterling was banned for the first leg against Madrid after picking up three yellow cards in his brief cameos before that.
The 2023-24 season for Sterling at Chelsea was the only time he has not played in any form of European competition since his senior career began 11 years prior.
Sterling had been a Champions League player for nine consecutive seasons between 2014 and 2023.
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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