A man who emerged at Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium after nine months of silence. From Chelsea's 'Bomb Squad' exile, training in Belgium while waiting for a work permit, that moment finally arrived. On February 23, 2026, in the Eredivisie Round 24 against Telstar, 31-year-old Raheem Sterling began his new journey. Can he find his second prime at Feyenoord? This article provides an in-depth analysis from his debut match to his entire career rollercoaster and England national team comeback possibilities.
1. Debut Report: The First 30 Minutes After 9 Months ⚡
Sunday, February 23, 2026. De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam was enveloped in a special atmosphere. Eredivisie Round 24, Feyenoord vs Telstar. With the score at 2-1 to Feyenoord in the 61st minute, the fourth substitute number went up. Number 19, Raheem Sterling. His first official match appearance in nine months.
📊 Key Debut Statistics
- Playing Time: Substituted in 61st minute (29 minutes total)
- Touches: 23
- Pass Success Rate: 82%
- Dribble Attempts: 2 (1 successful)
- Shots: 0
- Key Passes: 1
Sterling's last official match was May 25, 2025, in the Premier League final against Southampton while on loan at Arsenal. After that, he was trapped in Chelsea's 'Bomb Squad,' training with the U-21 team. Nine months is almost half a season for a footballer. Breaking that long silence, Sterling's movements on the pitch were cautious.
After the match, Sterling told ESPN: "It was good to be back out there after a while. I'm just trying to keep my fitness up and take it step by step to get back into the rhythm of games. It was good to get the win on debut. That's the most important thing. It's a good debut when you think about what we're trying to achieve."
His first touch drew cheers from home fans. Feyenoord's supporters, known as 'Het Legioen' at De Kuip, gasped at every ball touch. But Dutch media evaluations were cold. De Telegraaf's Valentijn Driessen called it an "anonymous and lifeless debut", while AD's Mikos Gouka noted "no real contribution yet."
2. End of Chelsea's 'Bomb Squad': £100 Million Nightmare 💸
Sterling's move to Feyenoord symbolizes how tragic his Chelsea spell was. In July 2022, he transferred from Manchester City to Chelsea for £47.5 million (approximately $93.3 billion). He was Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's first 'big name' signing after acquiring Chelsea. Then-manager Thomas Tuchel strongly advocated for his signing, calling him "the absolute number one in that position."
But three and a half years at Chelsea will be recorded as the worst period of his career. 19 goals in 81 matches. Considering his £325,000 weekly wage (approximately $64 million), the total transfer fee and wages exceeded £100 million—a complete 'failure.' He played under six managers (Tuchel, Potter, Lampard, Pochettino, Maresca, Rosenior) but never found a stable position.
| Season | Manager | League Apps | League Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Tuchel/Potter/Lampard | 28 | 6 | Tuchel sacked |
| 2023-24 | Pochettino | 31 | 8 | Scored home and away vs City |
| 2024-25 | Maresca | 0 | 0 | Joined 'Bomb Squad' |
| 2024-25 (loan) | Arteta (Arsenal) | 17 | 0 | 1 goal in League Cup vs Bolton |
In August 2024, manager Enzo Maresca directly informed Sterling that "it would be difficult to get playing time with us." He was then excluded from Chelsea's first-team squad and banned from using main facilities. After returning from his Arsenal loan in June 2025, nothing changed. For 20 months, he couldn't play in a Chelsea shirt, spending time training with the U-21 team.
On January 28, 2026, Sterling agreed to mutual contract termination with Chelsea, becoming a free agent. In exchange for giving up 18 months of remaining salary, he gained his freedom. According to BBC Sport, this decision saved Chelsea approximately £10 million.
3. Why Rotterdam: Why Feyenoord Among 18 Clubs? 🤔
When Sterling became a free agent, surprisingly many options were available. According to BBC Sport, 18 clubs across England and Europe expressed interest, including major European clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, and Napoli. Yet he chose Feyenoord in the Netherlands. Why?
🎯 Reasons for Sterling's Feyenoord Choice
- Deep conversations with Robin van Persie: "Understood what the role was and whether I could truly add value"
- Overseas league challenge: "First overseas challenge, gladly accepted"
- Champions League possibilities: Feyenoord competing for Europa League/Champions League qualification as 2nd in league
- Family proximity: Wanted London life but compromised with short contract (until season end)
After joining Feyenoord, Sterling said: "I had the opportunity to control my next step for the first time in a while as a free agent. I wanted to have in-depth conversations with several clubs and managers about what role they saw for me, and whether I could truly add value in this new chapter. After deep conversations with Robin (van Persie), I was convinced that Feyenoord was where I could be happy and establish myself as a valuable member of the team."
Particularly with Tottenham, reports indicated Sterling rejected their approach. This shows he prioritized 'playing environment' over simply joining a 'big club.' Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna explained the failed transfer: "He's great but hasn't played for a long time. We spoke in summer but his financial expectations were high, making it difficult."
4. Robin van Persie's Tactical Vision: How to Use Sterling 🎯
Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie is a Netherlands football legend who played for Arsenal and Manchester United. He's known for tactical philosophy inspired by Pep Guardiola. In an interview with The Guardian, van Persie recalled Guardiola moving water bottles to explain player positioning, saying he "drew energy from it."
Van Persie confirmed Sterling's 'exceptional quality' while watching his first training session. He praised Sterling's "small moments, how quickly he thinks and switches—other players recognize this and react to it." But he was also realistic.
Van Persie honestly admitted Sterling wasn't ready for 90 minutes. His plan is that we'll see the best Sterling after 'about 10 matches.' This shows his intention to gradually adapt Sterling with a long-term vision.
Tactically, Sterling is expected to be used as a left winger in Feyenoord's 4-3-3 formation. Competition with Anis Hadj-Moussa is anticipated, and his experience and decision-making will be crucial assets for Feyenoord's young attacking lineup. Especially his big-match experience is invaluable for a team targeting Champions League qualification.
5. Dutch Media Reactions: Fan Enthusiasm vs Cold Press 📰
Sterling's debut showed 'two faces.' Fans were enthusiastic, but the press was cold. This shows the gap between expectation and reality.
Fan Reactions: Cheers from 'Het Legioen'
Feyenoord fans at De Kuip gave Sterling a standing ovation. According to AD, "the cheers grew with every touch. Virtually every ball play by the 31-year-old Englishman caused delight at De Kuip." Sterling's name-printed shirts sold out instantly at the Feyenoord club store, and his appearance instantly became Rotterdam's hot topic.
Dutch Media Evaluations
De Telegraaf
Journalist Valentijn Driessen called it an "anonymous and lifeless debut", noting that "despite Het Legioen's enthusiasm, he didn't impose himself after nine months without top-level football."
AD (Algemeen Dagblad)
Mikos Gouka stated "no real contribution yet" and analyzed that "we should wait for the next 10 matches when he truly recovers his fitness."
ESPN Netherlands
Analyst Kees Kwakman said "he didn't stand out, mainly showing he's not fit yet" and predicted "we'll see the best Sterling after about 10 matches." Kenneth Perez added "there was legendary quality of movement. He must have been scared after not playing for so long."
The common evaluation from Dutch media was 'expected but not yet.' Considering the nine-month absence, it was a fair assessment, but they simultaneously acknowledged Sterling's potential. Given manager van Persie's trust and time, they expect Sterling's revival.
6. Community Reaction Analysis: Voices from Reddit, Twitter, Instagram 💬
Social media saw fierce debate over Sterling's debut. His Chelsea teammate and Manchester City/England teammate Jack Grealish angrily defended him against SNS criticism.
Grealish strongly rebutted Instagram criticism that Sterling should retire, using X-rated language. This shows how difficult Sterling's situation is, even among players.
Reddit Reaction Analysis
Football communities on Reddit showed various opinions about Sterling's debut. Key reactions are summarized below.
According to GiveMeSport, some fans showed negative reactions like "Sterling looked completely useless" and "Sterling will fail," but many other fans argued to give him time. Especially considering his nine-month absence, judging him on a 30-minute substitute appearance was unfair—this opinion was dominant.
7. England Comeback Possibilities: Road to 2026 World Cup 🏴
2026 is a World Cup year. The tournament in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) could be Sterling's last chance for an England comeback. His last national team appearance was the 2022 Qatar World Cup—already three years ago.
Sterling earned 82 caps for England, scoring 20 goals. Especially in Euro 2020, he was selected for the tournament's best team. But after his Chelsea struggles, he hasn't been called up by Thomas Tuchel (current England manager).
⚽ Sterling's England National Team Record
- Total Caps: 82 (2012-2022)
- Goals: 20
- Major Tournaments: 2014, 2018, 2022 World Cup / 2016, 2020 Euro
- Last Appearance: December 10, 2022, Qatar World Cup vs France (Quarterfinal)
- Current Manager Relationship: Worked with Tuchel at Chelsea
In a post-debut interview with ESPN, Sterling said about conversations with Tuchel: "I haven't spoken to him. Just continuing to play football is the most important thing." This shows he's focusing on immediate play rather than thinking about the World Cup yet.
Tuchel praised Sterling when signing him at Chelsea: "He was the absolute number one in that position. He was terrible to play against. His intensity and repeatability of intensity over the last few years has simply been outstanding." Whether this trust relationship leads to a World Cup call-up remains to be seen.
But realistically, Sterling's comeback won't be easy. England's wingers are filled with young stars like Bellingham, Foden, Saka, and Borden, and Sterling must prove his competitiveness in the Eredivisie after a nine-month absence. As van Persie predicted, after '10 matches,' his condition will be the key.
8. Career Statistics Analysis: Slowing Speed, Departing Feet 📊
Sterling's career follows a typical 'rise-peak-decline' curve. Let's track his changes through data.
Club-by-Club Breakdown
| Club | Period | League Apps | League Goals | Goals per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 2012-2015 | 95 | 18 | 0.19 |
| Manchester City | 2015-2022 | 225 | 91 | 0.40 |
| Chelsea | 2022-2026 | 59 | 14 | 0.24 |
| Arsenal (loan) | 2024-2025 | 17 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Feyenoord | 2026- | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
His Manchester City period was his prime. 91 goals in 225 matches, with 0.40 goals per game efficiency. Especially 2017-18 (18 goals), 2018-19 (17 goals), and 2019-20 (20 goals) were his best seasons. But after moving to Chelsea, his scoring plummeted, and during his Arsenal loan, he had zero league goals in 17 matches.
According to Flashscore analysis, Sterling attempted only 88 one-on-one dribbles in the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25), with just 22 through balls to teammates. Most concerning was his pass success rate under pressure. These indicators show his declining confidence and decisiveness.
9. Future Prospects: What Sterling Will Look Like After 10 Matches 🔮
Manager van Persie predicted we'll see the best Sterling after 'about 10 matches.' This means around mid-April 2026, a crucial period approaching the Eredivisie season end (May).
Feyenoord's Remaining Fixtures
Feyenoord currently sits 2nd in the Eredivisie (14 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven), competing for Champions League qualification (2nd place). Important matches remain for Sterling:
- Match vs FC Twente: Tougher opponent than debut, a real test of ability
- De Klassieker vs Ajax: Netherlands national derby, the stage where his true worth will be revealed
- Match vs PSV Eindhoven: Against league leaders, a watershed moment for Champions League qualification
🎯 3 Conditions for Sterling's Success
- Fitness Recovery: Top priority is recovering condition to play 90 full minutes
- Confidence Rebuilding: Regaining boldness in dribbling and decisive moments
- Team Integration: Perfect adaptation to van Persie's tactical system
ESPN's Kees Kwakman said "he'll need about 10 matches to show his best Sterling," and Fr-Fans evaluated "Sterling's first few minutes showed significant progress is needed for full fitness recovery." This means everyone is asking to give him time.
10. Conclusion: Dawn of Revival or Final Dance? 🎭
Raheem Sterling's Feyenoord debut was 'below expectations.' Considering the nine-month absence, it was a natural result, but the cold evaluation from Dutch media shows the size of the challenge he must overcome.
But these 30 minutes are just the beginning. With manager van Persie's trust, enthusiastic support from Feyenoord fans, and his own will, he can revive. As Jack Grealish said, the key is to "give him time."
31 is an important turning point for a footballer. Can Sterling regain his Manchester City glory (4 Premier League titles, 91 goals), or will his Chelsea nightmare (19 goals, 'Bomb Squad') be his final image?
The 2026 World Cup could be his final motivation. If he dreams of a place in Thomas Tuchel's England, he must prove himself in the Eredivisie. After van Persie's predicted '10 matches,' we will know the answer.
For now, it's time to move forward "step by step." May Rotterdam's spring breeze signal his second prime.