Chelsea are on the brink of agreeing to terminate Raheem Sterling’s contract and allowing him to leave the club after three-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge, according to Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath.
The 31-year-old has been linked with a move away from the west London club during the January transfer window, with an exit now drawing closer.
The former England international hasn’t made a single appearance for the Blues under Enzo Maresca this season, and he also hasn’t been named in any matchday squads.
Should Chelsea and Sterling finalise the agreement in the next days, it would appear to be the best move for all parties.
Sterling Can Join New Club as a Free Agent
The latest development is good news for the Englishman in particular, as it not only allows him to join a new club on a free transfer – which is likely to be more attractive to suitors – but he can also sign for a new club outside the transfer window too.
Posting on X on Wednesday afternoon, McGrath has posted an exclusive update on the situation.
Prior to being frozen out at the Bridge, Sterling has made 81 appearances for the Blues since joining in the summer of 2022, scoring 19 goals and providing a further 15 assists.
The 31-year-old spent last season on loan at Arsenal but after the Gunners decided against signing the forward permanently, he returned to Chelsea where he has been exiled from the squad and forced to train separately.
The controversial American has posted about being banned from the UFC event on the 14th of June, and instead of seeking any sort of forgiveness, has further pushed the boat out.
The UFC middleweight champion released a video on X saying he had been banned from attending the event due in part to his outspoken views on President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, as well as his associations with Jeffrey Epstein and the Israeli government.
Strickland last entered the Octagon in May, when he took the middleweight title off of Khamzat Chimaev, so it would have been very unlikely that he would fight again at this event. Despite that, Dana White and the rest of the UFC hierarchy have made it clear to the 35-year-old that he is not welcome to attend UFC White House.
It seems that Tarzan hasn’t taken the news particularly well, as he has jumped on social media to double down on his opinions.
Sean Strickland’s Reaction to Being Banned From White House
The veteran has never been afraid to speak his mind, and is known as a loose cannon, which helps explain why he has been told to stay away from what is already looking like a controversial event.
Only hours after releasing a video in which he explains why he has been blacklisted from Washington DC, he posted an AI image of himself wearing his usual fighting gear, as well as a fedora, a large trench coat, as well as sporting payots, in an attempt to look Jewish.
Bryce Mitchell, as always, has reacted honestly to the ban of Sean Strickland from UFC Freedom 250.
Strickland posted a caption on the AI-generated image saying: “Going to the White House was promised to me 3,000 years ago.”
The reference is seen as an anti-Semitic slur regarding the Torah teachings where God promised the land of Israel to the Jewish people 3,000 years ago.
Sean Strickland Gets Into War of Words With Justin Gaethje
The controversial UFC fighter didn’t stop there, though. He has been very active on X giving his opinions on the matter, and has even begun feuding with other fighters, such as Justin Gaethje, on the platform.
Strickland has always been a controversial figure, and this latest episode doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
Before last month’s win over Chimaev at UFC 328, the veteran called his Russian opponent a ‘terrorist’, while in January, before his bout against Anthony Hernandez, he posted an AI-generated image of himself as a US immigration officer and Hernandez, who is, like Strickland, a California native, in a sombrero and poncho.
How much money do England’s footballers have? That’s a question likely to be on the lips of many football fans as they watch the 2026 World Cup at home this summer.
However, The Sun have published a list of every player’s net worth and the results are fascinating. The richest player has earned an astronomical £110 million over the course of his career, while the player in 26th place has only just cracked the £1 million mark. Let’s take a closer look at the list…
England Squad: 2026 World Cup Rich List
26. Nico O’Reilly | £1 million
As one of the youngest members of the England squad, it’s no surprise that Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly is bottom of the pile. Still, a net worth of £1 million at the age of 21 isn’t bad, eh?
25. Elliot Anderson | £2.5 million
Expect the 23-year-old’s net worth to rise considerably if he seals a move away from Nottingham Forest after the World Cup.
24. Djed Spence | £3 million
The Tottenham full-back is next up with a net worth of £3 million.
The 23-year-old defender left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen last summer and hasn’t looked back.
21. James Trafford | £4.5 million
Not bad at all for a 23-year-old goalkeeper who currently finds himself as back-up to Gianluigi Donnarumma at Man City.
20. Noni Madueke | £5 million
Noni Madueke switched Chelsea for Arsenal last summer and won the Premier League title in his debut season with the Gunners.
19. Tino Livramento | £5.5 million
Newcastle defender Tino Livramento has also crossed the £5 million mark.
18. Dan Burn | £6 million
The oldest members of England’s World Cup squad, not even Dan Burn himself would have expected to be on the plane just a few years ago.
17. Ezri Konsa | £6.5 million
Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, 28, is next up with a net worth of £6.5 million.
16. Eberechi Eze | £7 million
Eberechi Eze has enhanced his reputation since leaving Crystal Palace for Arsenal. It’s hard to see him taking a penalty this summer, though, after missing in the Champions League shootout against PSG.
15. Anthony Gordon | £7.5 million
Now a Barcelona player after leaving Newcastle United. Has the opportunity to cement his status as one of the world’s best forwards at Camp Nou.
14. Reece James | £8 million
Gifted and influential full-back when fit, Chelsea’s Reece James has struggled badly with injuries throughout his career but that hasn’t prevented him from banking eight million quid.
13. Marc Guehi | £12 million
Left Crystal Palace for Man City in January and should start for Thomas Tuchel’s England this summer.
England would have an unstoppable starting line-up if these players had chosen to represent the Three Lions
12. Dean Henderson | £12 million
Leaving Manchester United for Crystal Palace in 2023 was a decision Dean Henderson knew he had to make and it’s paid off dividends – in more ways than one.
11. Morgan Rogers | £12.5 million
A star player for Aston Villa, Morgan Rogers will be hoping to make a big impact in North America over the coming weeks.
Endured an ill-fated but lucrative move to Saudi Arabia after leaving Liverpool. Returned to the Premier League with Brentford in 2025 after a season with Dutch giants Ajax.
A little surprising to see Ollie Watkins so high up this list? The 30-year-old striker remains one of Villa’s key players.
6. John Stones | £22 million
The classy central defender has left Manchester City and is being linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
5. Bukayo Saka | £23.5 million
Arsenal’s star boy is only 24 years old but has already amassed a fortune during his career to date.
4. Jordan Pickford | £36 million
There’s then a big jump to Jordan Pickford, one of England’s greatest ever goalkeepers, who has bagged a whopping £36 million.
3. Jude Bellingham | £40 million
England’s most marketable player, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is only 22 years old but is already absolutely minted.
2. Marcus Rashford | £65 million
Has blown hot and cold throughout his career, but that hasn’t stopped Marcus Rashford from banking an eye-watering £65 million.
1. Harry Kane | £110 million
But streets ahead of the rest – and deservedly so, some might say – is England captain Harry Kane. One of the greatest strikers of his generation – and possibly of all time – the prolific Bayern Munich star thoroughly deserves the riches that have come his way.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland took to X to confirm he has been instructed not to attend the UFC event, due to take place on the South Lawn of the White House on the 14th of June.
Strickland has claimed that because he has spoken out about President Trump’s associations with Jeffrey Epstein and the Israeli Prime Minister, he has been ordered by Dana White and the rest of the UFC hierarchy to stay away from the Presidential home.
The fall-out has continued, as fellow UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell has had his say on the matter, who is never one to shy away from controversial topics.
What Bryce Mitchell Has Said About Sean Strickland’s Ban
Reacting to the middleweight champion’s ban, Mitchell said: “I’m not surprised at all.”
The 31-year-old went on to explain how he believes that freedom of speech is an important part of being American and should allow a person to criticise if and when they see fit.
“We ought to be able to criticise our own nation, let alone a foreign nation. [Israel] is the only nation you’re not allowed to criticise. Something’s gonna change, because evil empires won’t last forever.”
Despite siding with Strickland, Mitchell did admit that he would jump at the chance to be a part of the card for UFC Freedom 250.
“I do want to be on the card,” he added, before explaining that he isn’t jealous of the likes of Derrick Lewis, Alex Pereira, and Sean O’Malley. “This is what I gotta say, I ain’t jealous of any of those fighters. I am so happy for those fighters.
“If they need me to fill in, if I’m healthy, hey, I’ll do it.”
Bryce Mitchell’s Previous Controversies
The 18-3 fighter has a history of controversial takes, from claiming COVID-19 was created by the US government, to praising Adolf Hitler and denying that the Holocaust happened, so he probably isn’t someone Sean Strickland sees as a worthwhile advocate.
Mitchell does, however, go on to say that he thinks sport and government shouldn’t go hand in hand.
“But what I think, personally, is that our government has desecrated its role in society by entertaining sports. Our government is to protect and serve the people.”
Strickland won’t be at the White House for UFC Freedom 250 and he’s not happy about it.
Mitchell is defiant in his opinion that the UFC should not be working with the White House to host an event, but he does refrain from putting the blame on the likes of Dana White, and says it is an opportunity that the UFC could not turn down. He puts the blame solely on the US government, claiming: “We already have a corrupted government.”
Mitchell is in action this Saturday on the UFC Vegas 118 card when he takes on Satiago Luna.
