Raheem Sterling to Chelsea: Is the Man City winger in decline?
Paul Macdonald
- 13 Jul 2022 18:16 BST
- 3 min read
Raheem Sterling has completed a €56 million transfer to Chelsea from Manchester City.
Sterling becomes Chelsea's first signing of the summer, with City choosing to sell after it became apparent that the winger wasn't going to renew his contract that was due to expire next year.
The 27-year-old featured less last season for Pep Guardiola, perhaps with the knowledge that he was going to be moving on.
In 2021/22, he played 3,311 minutes for City in all competitions, down from 3,918 in 20/21 and much less than the 4,353 minutes he featured in during 2019/20.
But what about his statistical contribution?
Raheem Sterling stats: Season comparison
Sterling may well have been playing less but his overall output, both actual and expected, didn't take too much of a downturn.
As the above graphic shows, other than his outlier 19/20 season when his numbers were exceptional, his numbers in 21/22 are in keeping with his average seasons at City - which remain very good.
Indeed his xG P90 and his xG per shot last season was his best performance across all four previous campaigns, which is testament to the fact that when he featured, he remained a real and present threat for City.
His shots P90 are also consistent at 2.2, which he was producing 1.85 Key Passes P90, again, a superior rate than in previous seasons. His 3.5 successful dribbles P90 are also largely consistent with his high level of performance across previous seasons.
Raheem Sterling to Chelsea
There is plenty of logic in this transfer for all parties.
City earn a fee for a player who isn't keen to renew, one that can be reinvested in other targets. And Guardiola has had time to prepare for the future without him, with Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden being selected far more in key matches.
And Sterling still has plenty to give at the age of 27 and a half. After multiple seasons of being pushed to the limit, playing every week for both club and country, his somewhat lighter schedule last season could have reinvigorated him and could be a useful option for Chelsea, in a system which could ultimately suit him, too.
This is the type of transfer that has clear logic.
