Mikel Arteta drops MASSIVE Chelsea transfer hint

Cameron Smith

9 Mar 2025 20:00 GMT
3 min read

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has virtually admitted that Raheem Sterling will not join the club on a permanent deal this summer.

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The former England international joined Arsenal on a season-long loan deal on Transfer Deadline Day last summer, after being cast aside by Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, and he was expected to provide significant attacking depth for the Gunners.

However, Sterling’s time in north London hasn’t gone as planned and he has failed to make a meaningful impact since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

The 30-year-old has only started four Premier League matches so far this season, despite Arsenal’s injury crisis, and he was an unused substitute against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Furthermore, Arsenal’s forward line looked incredibly toothless at Old Trafford, yet Arteta opted against bringing Sterling onto the pitch and instead turned to Kieran Tierney.

The Scotland defender, who was loaned to Real Sociedad last season after falling out of favour at Arsenal, came on as a left winger for the final stages against Ruben Amorim’s side, with Sterling left on the bench despite being a more natural attacker.

As a result, it’s hard to see a world in which Arsenal decide to sign Sterling on a permanent deal and he is therefore expected to return to Chelsea before seeking an alternative transfer away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

Raheem Sterling unlikely to join Arsenal

Sterling has only scored one goal and provided two assists in 22 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal so far this season, and he is extremely unlikely to remain at Chelsea next campaign, despite Mykhailo Mudryk’s provisional suspension for doping.

While Arsenal aren’t expected to sign Sterling this summer, they are hoping to finalise several big-money transfers ahead of the 2025-26 season.

FootballTransfers understands that Martin Zubimendi, Sverre Nypan, Nico Williams and Benjamin Sesko are key targets for Arteta’s side, while the Gunners are also set to pursue a move for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia.