Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling MBE is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for the England national team and Premier League side Chelsea FC. He has been deployed as a forward and attacking midfielder during his career as well.

Early Life

Raheem Sterling was born on December 8, 1994, in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to London with his family when he was five years old and grew up in the neighborhood of Wembley. As a child, Sterling began playing football with local clubs in north London. He was later scouted by Queens Park Rangers and joined their academy at the age of 10. However, he left QPR at the age of 15 after being courted by Liverpool, who signed him to their youth academy in 2010.

Club Career

Sterling's club career began at Queens Park Rangers, where he joined the academy at the age of 10. He later moved to Liverpool's academy in 2010 and made his senior debut for the club in March 2012, at the age of 17. Sterling quickly established himself as a regular first-team player and played an important role in Liverpool's title challenge in the 2013-14 season, scoring nine goals in 33 league appearances.

In 2015, Sterling was sold to Manchester City for a then-record fee of £49 million, making him the most expensive English player at the time. Sterling initially struggled to adapt to life at Manchester City but gradually improved under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola.

In his seven seasons at Manchester City, he scored 131 goals in 339 appearances, winning multiple trophies including four Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and five EFL Cups.

On July 13, 2022, Sterling signed for Chelsea on a five-year contract for a fee of £47.5 million. He made his debut on August 6, 2022, in a 1–0 away win against Everton.

International Career

Sterling made his international debut for England in November 2012, at the age of 17 years and 342 days, becoming the fifth-youngest player to represent England at the senior level.

He played a key role in England's run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring twice in the group stage and providing an assist in the knockout stage. He also played an important role in England's qualification for the 2020 European Championship, scoring eight goals in qualifying matches.

At the UEFA 2020 European Championship, Sterling was again a key player for England, scoring three goals in the group stage and providing an assist in the knockout stage. He scored the winning goal in England's opening match of the tournament against Croatia and scored the only goal in England's knockout stage victory over the Czech Republic. He was named the man of the match in both of those games.

He also featured in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he scored England’s third goal in their 6-2 win against Iran in the group stages. On December 4, Sterling left the England World Cup squad in Qatar to return to London after armed intruders broke into his home while his family were in. However, he later returned prior to their quarter-final clash against France, which they went on to lose 2-1.

To date, he has made 82 appearances for England, scoring 20 goals.

Records

• He is the youngest player to ever start a match for Liverpool in the Premier League, making his first start for the club at the age of 17 years and 107 days.

• In the 2018-19 season, Sterling became the first player in Premier League history to win the Player of the Month award three times in a single season.

• Sterling scored 23 goals in all competitions for Manchester City in the 2019-20 season, becoming the first English player to score 20 or more goals in back-to-back seasons for the club since Brian Kidd in 1977-78.

• Sterling scored three goals in the group stage of the 2020 European Championship, becoming the first England player to score three goals in the group stage of a major tournament since Gary Lineker in the 1986 World Cup.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Off the pitch, Sterling has been involved in several philanthropic initiatives. In 2017, he launched the Raheem Sterling Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people in the UK by providing access to education and sport. Sterling has also been involved in campaigns to combat racism in football and society, and has been vocal about his own experiences of racial abuse.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $45 million.

Family

Sterling was raised by his mother, Nadine Clarke, in London after his parents separated when he was young. Sterling has spoken about the challenges his family faced while he was growing up, including financial struggles and his father's absence from his life. In addition to his mother, Sterling has two siblings, a sister named Lakima and a brother named Kingston.

Partner

Sterling is also in a long-term relationship with his partner, Paige Milian, with whom he has two children, a son, and a daughter.

Houses

In 2015, he purchased a mansion in the Cheshire village of Alderley Edge for £3.5 million. The property features a swimming pool, a gym, and a cinema room, among other amenities.

In 2018, Sterling reportedly purchased a £3.1 million apartment in the One Hyde Park development in London's Knightsbridge neighborhood. The property is located in one of the most prestigious residential buildings in the world and features luxurious finishes and panoramic views of the city.