Grading The Blues’ First Transfer Of Summer

Raheem Sterling became the most expensive English player of all time when Manchester City signed him from Liverpool in 2015 and, as always with a big-money move, he did so amid high expectations. There were those who doubted whether he was worth the eventual £49m fee, but his improvement and the trophies won under Pep Guardiola have ended debates over his value to one of the best teams in Premier League history.

In scoring his 100th goal under Guardiola in February 2021, Sterling joined an elite group –Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero are the only other players to have achieved that feat. He is so important to Guardiola that he almost never misses a game. “He’s an exceptional player,” Guardiola said. “He plays all the minutes for us. Of course, there will be a moment where he takes a rest but he is such an important player that we cannot leave him out.”

A star in LA! 🇺🇸#SterlingIsChelsea pic.twitter.com/kgTYEI3ybn

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 13, 2022

Sterling will give Chelsea an excellent off-ball presence who can disrupt opposition defences with astute movement, and will help ameliorate their struggles against deep sitting defences. His arrival means someone like Kai Havertz can focus more on creating from deep rather than performing a role as both a creative presence and the side’s primary goalscorer.

Sterling may not be a prolific goalscorer or an out-and-out number nine, but he should give Chelsea a reliable source of goals and, crucially, suit Thomas Tuchel’s attacking system. Keeping all that in mind, how good a fit will the England forward be for the Stamford Bridge outfit – FootTheBall rate his transfer to Chelsea here.

Raheem Sterling playing style and analysis

Sterling has long been a huge threat in one-on-one situations, but he has become so much more than that under the guidance of Guardiola at City. From his earliest days in Liverpool’s first team he used his speed and acceleration to beat opponents, but over time defenders adjusted to his preference to attack on the outside. Since moving to City he has worked on cutting back infield and has become deadly when doing so. Sterling is equally dangerous on either wing and his ability to go down the line or cut infield makes him not only particularly unpredictable, but capable of providing a better link with the lone central striker Guardiola prefers.

Here We Go , imminent 😉 @sterling7 to @ChelseaFC #CFC #Sterling pic.twitter.com/xGkw5BssTF

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