Raheem Sterling is set to depart Manchester City after seven years, with Chelsea agreeing a £47.5 million fee with the Premier League champions for the England international in what will be the first big-name signing of the Todd Boehly era in west London.
On Wednesday afternoon, news emerged via various sources suggesting that Sterling had agreed on personal terms with Chelsea to become their highest-paid player, with an agreement on a transfer fee between the two sides only a matter of time.
It has now been revealed by David Ornstein of The Athletic and confirmed by Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News that the two clubs have agreed on a flat £47.5 million fee for the winger, with no add-ons included.
Sterling is set to sign a five-year deal at Chelsea, with the option of another year.
Multiple publications have confirmed that the City relationship with the 27-year-old ended amicably – and after leaving the Etihad Stadium having made 337 appearances for the club, scoring 131 times and assisting a further 94, the majority of the Blues faithful will hold him in very high esteem.
Sterling will leave Manchester as a four-time Premier League winner, five-time League Cup winner, one-time FA Cup winner, and two-time Community Shield winner, playing a crucial part in the successes the club has enjoyed since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016.
Struggling for consistent minutes and being used sparingly in the biggest games over the past two seasons – owing to a drop in form, it has been well-publicised that the senior England international was assessing his options for regular game time, and following discussions with Thomas Tuchel, it has been decided that Chelsea were his best option.
Elsewhere, FC Vizela in the Portuguese top-flight have signed Diego Rosa on a season-long loan from City. The 19-year-old midfielder spent the last campaign on loan at City Football Group side Lommel SK in Belgium.
Goalkeeper James Trafford has signed a new four-year deal with the Blues until 2027 and will spend the season on loan at Bolton after a successful loan with the League One side in the second half of last season. Academy midfielder Rowan McDonald has also signed a new deal with City, signing a one-year contract.
Written by: @NA1907
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