Raheem Sterling’s exit from Chelsea has shaken up the transfer market. The England winger is now a free agent, and his representatives are holding talks with several clubs.
Sterling became a free agent after mutually terminating his contract with Chelsea on January 28, 2026 (he had been largely sidelined, including a loan at Arsenal in 2024-25, and hadn’t played competitively since mid-2025).
Multiple reports indicate Spurs showed interest:
Sources like CaughtOffside, Daily Mail, TEAMtalk, and others noted Tottenham as one of several clubs (including West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Napoli, Juventus, and more) considering him, with manager Thomas Frank reportedly “on board.”
His preference to stay in London for family reasons boosted local clubs’ chances, and he was willing to take a significant pay cut (from ~£325,000/week at Chelsea to less than a third).
Spurs’ interest stemmed from needing attacking reinforcements amid injuries and poor form (they were reportedly in 14th place domestically at times).
Tottenham have shown interest, but they’re not alone. London rivals West Ham, Fulham, and Crystal Palace are also in the race, with Sterling’s desire to stay in the capital for family reasons giving them an edge. Fulham’s connection with Marco Silva, Palace’s squad planning, and West Ham’s need for attacking depth all make him an appealing option. Brentford’s name has been mentioned too, though financial limits weaken their chances.
The key factor is Sterling’s willingness to take a huge pay cut. From earning €375,000 per week at Chelsea, he’s ready to sign for less than a third of that amount. This flexibility has attracted interest from abroad as well, with Juventus, Napoli, Bayern Munich, and Roma all monitoring the situation. MLS clubs have made approaches too, but Sterling’s priority is to remain at the top level and, ideally, join a team competing in the Champions League.
However, the situation evolved quickly:
Some later reports (e.g., from Goal.com and journalists like Alasdair Gold) stated Tottenham withdrew interest or backed away, citing concerns over his wage demands not fitting the club’s financial structure, despite no transfer fee.
Other sources, such as Express Sport, indicated no plans to pursue him in the late stages of the window.
Conflicting claims exist; some say interest was “serious,” others that Spurs were never truly in or pulled out, typical of late-window speculation.
