Raheem Sterling finally ended a rough patch at Stamford Bridge. He and Chelsea agreed to end his contract on January 28, 2026. This move came after a quiet loan spell at Arsenal. He only scored once in 28 games for them. Journalist Pete O’Rourke says West Ham are now leading the pack to sign him.
Sterling’s Move and West Ham’s Scrap for Survival
Fulham and Crystal Palace are also interested. These clubs are thinking about a move for the 31-year-old winger. Transfer expert Pete O’Rourke thinks the player is open to different paths. He might go for a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League or the MLS instead of staying in London.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I don’t think Sterling has made any definitive decision on his future. He is open to all options.
“He is more than happy to consider moves outside of London. He could be interested in a move away from the Premier League.
“Napoli were interested in the former England international in the summer, but their sporting director has come out and said that, although they are admirers of Sterling, it would be a difficult deal to do because of the finances involved.
“I think there’ll be interest from the Saudi Pro League, and you’ll have interest from the MLS and Turkey as well.
“Sterling won’t be short of options despite the unhappy time that he’s had at Chelsea in the last couple of seasons.”
Do the Hammers need the Englishman?
West Ham are in a really tough spot right now. They are sitting in 18th place in the Premier League after a bad run under Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers have let in 48 goals in only 24 games. This shows they have real problems with their defence and how they set up on the pitch.
Fans have been vocal about poor recruitment. The team look old and slow compared to the fast-paced style other top teams use. Jarrod Bowen still looks dangerous up front. But when Mohammed Kudus left for Tottenham last summer, it left a massive hole. Adama Traoré joined in January, but he has not been able to fill that gap, as of now.
Picking up Raheem Sterling for free is a big roll of the dice. The club are in a desperate fight to stay out of the Championship this May. Sterling’s recent form makes it look like his confidence is gone. Both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior basically froze him out at Chelsea.
If the Englishman says no to West Ham and goes abroad, the club will see it as a huge chance gone to waste. They really need some experienced leaders in that dressing room. But his high wages could mess up the club’s finances.
The board needs to focus on getting younger, faster players. Missing out on a big name like Sterling would hurt their chances of staying up. Still, the club might get more out of signing hungry players who are ready for a messy relegation battle.
