Feyenoord exploit little-known loophole to get around Raheem Sterling training ban

Feyenoord have created a training camp in Belgium to work their way around the work permit delay for Raheem Sterling.

The winger completed a surprise move to the Dutch side earlier this month by signing a contract until the end of the season.

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Sterling’s arrival came after the mutual termination of his contract at Chelsea, 18 months before its initial expiration.

He has taken the no. 19 shirt at Feyenoord but soon after his signing, it was revealed that he hadn’t been able to begin training.

The 31-year-old has been waiting on a work permit, which allows him to train and play for the club.

However, head coach Robin van Persie revealed that he has overseen training sessions in Belgium to allow Sterling to work with the team.

“That’s allowed abroad,” he said. “We’re doing it for him, but I also want to work on our team development. We can have some good conversations and do something fun together.

“He’ll start training the day after tomorrow, [Tuesday]. We’ll see each week when he’s fit for a match.

“That will take some time, but that seems logical to me, since he hasn’t played for six months.”

Sterling set for fresh start at Feyenoord

It has been two years since Sterling last played for Chelsea, who signed him from Manchester City in 2022 in a £50million deal.

He spent the 2024/25 season on loan at London rivals Arsenal before being part of the Blues’ so-called ‘bomb squad’ in the summer.

Sterling did not make a single appearance under former head coach Enzo Maresca, who left a few weeks before his west London exit.

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Now at Feyenoord, who are second in the Eredivisie, the ex-Liverpool and City winger has the chance to reignite his career.

Sterling is a four-time Premier League winner with City, who scored 123 goals and assisted 65 others across his 396 top flight appearances.

He has also earned 82 caps with England, and Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan believes his latest move is a positive step.

“I think this is what it’s all about for Raheem,” he told talkSPORT.

“He comes into an environment which he probably needs after not playing for such a long time.

“The Feyenoord fans were queuing up this morning at the airport. They were singing for him. He was signing autographs.

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“He will go into a stadium which is filled with 50,000 people every week. They’ve got a very loyal, loud crowd every week.

“Before he’s even kicked a ball, he’s already a hero here. I still have to see when he’s actually fit.

“Because he’s only trained individual programmes over the last three, four months. He’s not been involved in a game.

“Robin knows that he has to train him up a bit with the squad in the next few weeks. I think he will not make 90 minutes immediately.”