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Raheem Sterling has completed a surprise transfer to Arsenal, ending his exile at Chelsea.
On a dramatic day as the transfer deadline approached and Jadon Sancho was close to a move to Stamford Bridge, the Gunners immediately snapped up Sterling from their London rivals, looking set to finally end their attempts to sign a new striker.
There is no obligation to buy an option in the deal, which was completed in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“You’re going to see the best of me,” Sterling said in a video Arsenal posted to their X account.
Sterling has been told he has no future at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca and the club are working to find a new home for him.
Arsenal have agreed a season-long loan deal for Raheem Sterling on the final day of the deadline
Sterling has been loaned to the Gunners for the full season, but there is no obligation to buy
The England international underwent a medical at Arsenal late on Friday evening before the deal was completed
Mail Sport reported on Thursday that Arsenal have been offered Sterling and Kingsley Coman by Bayern Munich.
And Arsenal made their interest in Sterling official on Friday afternoon, before the formalities of the deal were completed.
Sterling’s £325,000-a-week wage was also seen as the main stumbling block to his departure during the transfer window. But the two clubs have reached an agreement on how they will share his salary over the duration of the loan.
The 29-year-old player will be reunited with Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, with whom he worked successfully at Manchester City.
Arteta and Sterling pictured in December 2019 when they were both employed by Man City
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made it clear that Sterling is not in his plans this season
Sancho will meanwhile replace Sterling at Stamford Bridge, where he will soon be loaned to Manchester United, where he was not to the taste of head coach Erik ten Hag due to the much-publicised rift between the two clubs.
The former Borussia Dortmund star will join the London club on loan with an obligation to buy, with sources suggesting the permanent purchase price is in the region of £23m.