Raheem Sterling turned down a staggering £650,000-a-week offer from Saudi Arabia to secure a loan move to Arsenal from Chelsea.
The incredible package for the 29-year-old would have more than doubled his current £300,000-a-week salary.
However, Sterling prioritized joining Arsenal, aiming to help the Gunners in their quest for the Premier League title over financial gain.
The England winger also remains focused on his long-term goal of rejoining the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Sterling’s representatives finalized the dramatic late loan move across London on Friday night.
He now joins Mikel Arteta’s squad as a key player, expected to be instrumental in their title challenge.
Mirror Football claims that Sterling rejected the Saudi offer two days before talks even began between Chelsea and Arsenal.
The situation escalated early last week, ten days after new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made it clear, both publicly and privately, that Sterling would no longer play for the club.
This decision left Chelsea facing the prospect of covering his £27 million-a-year wages for the next three years while he trained alone.
The shift in Maresca’s stance was surprising, given that Sterling had played in every game during the club’s pre-season tour this summer.
Maresca had previously stated: “For sure, he is one of our important players… the important thing is we give him minutes, and he is doing well.”
Sterling had been prominently featured in the club’s marketing efforts, including a new sleeve sponsorship alongside Millie Bright and captain Enzo Fernandez.
A piece on the Chelsea website praised his “leadership role” with the headline: ‘Raheem Sterling Interview: A positive influence and setting standards.’
After the sudden change of plans, Sterling made it clear in talks with Chelsea that they would either need to cover the remaining three years of his £70 million contract or find him another club.
Chelsea’s management spent the following days reaching out to clubs in an attempt to offload Sterling, who had been stripped of his shirt number, given a packed lunch, and told to train separately from the squad.
When the interest from an unnamed Saudi club was presented to him on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sterling remained steadfast, refusing to be pressured into a move that could jeopardize his England career.
Having played a crucial role in Manchester City’s success, including four Premier League titles, five League Cups, the FA Cup, and the Champions League, as well as helping England reach the final of the 2020 European Championship, Sterling remains as motivated as ever.
Now, at Arsenal, he is determined to prove his worth and contribute to their title challenge.
Sterling joins the ranks of former Chelsea players, like Kai Havertz and Jorginho, who have found success at Arsenal, and Mateo Kovacic, who played a key role in Manchester City’s title-winning season.
As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, Sterling is eager to enjoy the stability and success that could lie ahead in North London.
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