Raheem Sterling appears poised to end his prolonged exile at Chelsea within the coming days, with the club actively working to resolve his situation before Monday's transfer deadline.
The 31-year-old winger has not featured for the Blues since May 2024, when he scored in a Premier League victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
Wednesday evening's Champions League fixture against Napoli will represent a stark milestone: the 100th match Chelsea have contested without Sterling's involvement.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that discussions are ongoing between the club and the player's representatives to find a resolution.
Raheem Sterling is currently frozen out of the squad at Chelsea | PADespite new head coach Liam Rosenior promising players a fresh start upon his appointment, Sterling has remained outside the first-team setup, with the manager confirming he will not be reintegrated into the senior squad.
Sterling's current deal at Stamford Bridge runs until the end of the 2026/27 season, with approximately 18 months remaining on a contract worth in excess of £25 million.
The England international earns £325,000 per week, making him one of the club's highest-paid players despite his extended absence from competitive action.
A mutual termination of his contract now appears to be among the options under consideration, with both parties reportedly in contact to reach an agreement.
Sterling is understood to be unwilling to accept another temporary move, instead seeking a permanent solution to his predicament.
Raheem Sterling had a disappointing spell on loan at Arsenal last season | GETTYShould the two sides find common ground on the remaining value of his deal, Chelsea would benefit from a substantial reduction to their wage bill whilst Sterling could pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Sterling arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022 as the first major signing following the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover, joining from Manchester City for £47.5 million.
The move was widely regarded as a statement of intent by the club's new ownership, with Sterling becoming their highest-paid player.
During his time in west London, the 82-cap England international accumulated 81 appearances across all competitions, contributing 19 goals and 15 assists.
His final outing came on that May afternoon against Bournemouth, when he doubled Chelsea's lead with a left-footed finish through goalkeeper Neto's legs after bamboozling defender Max Aarons on the left flank.
Neither Sterling nor anyone else at the club realised at the time that this goal would mark his last contribution in a Chelsea shirt.
Sterling has spent his exile as part of Chelsea's so-called bomb squad, a group of players deemed surplus to requirements who trained separately from the first team under former manager Enzo Maresca.
Fellow outcasts have previously included Axel Disasi, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu and Alfie Gilchrist, though Disasi has since been welcomed back into the fold by Rosenior.
During his time away from competitive football, Sterling has kept busy through his RS7 Academy, running coaching sessions for children at Goals centres in Surbiton and Wembley, with classes priced between £25 and £35 per hour.
The winger has consistently expressed a preference for remaining in the capital, close to his family, which includes his son Thiago, who is currently in Arsenal's academy.