Rio Ferdinand thinks Chelsea have done “unbelievably well” to sign Raheem Sterling from their rivals Manchester City for £47.5m.
Sterling made his debut in senior football with Liverpool. He shone for them prior to his £49m move to Man City ahead of the 2015/16 campaign.
The Englishman was a key player for Man City, scoring 131 goals in 339 appearances. He helped them win the Premier League title four times.
The forward fell slightly down the pecking order last term and his contract was due to expire in 2023.
Chelsea have now signed him for a fee of around £47.5m. He is their first incoming ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
“Questioned by Liverpool fans, ridiculed by Liverpool fans when he made that move. Other sections of the football community questioned whether he was good enough, shouldn’t be held in that esteem, shouldn’t be held in that class,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five.
“The kid does it everywhere, he does it in the Champions League, the Premier League. And Chelsea, by the way, what a steal.
“The market and they’ve gone and got him… wow. So the new owners at Chelsea have come in, it’s a fantastic deal on their part, listen they’ve got a ready-made Premier League goal-getter, havoc-causer in the league, simple as that. If he can replicate the form at Man City in a Chelsea shirt… wow. Listen, the Chelsea boys in England they know what they’re getting they know what’s coming through that door.
“They’re not idiots, they know, they’ve done unbelievably well to get him, I just can’t believe other teams he could’ve gone to, he maybe could of but he wanted to go to London.
“But Raheem Sterling, even though you were on the other side of Manchester, I have to salute the way you carried yourself and the way you continue to do so because I know you will. So listen, good luck man and don’t be too successful because I want my boys to come back but I hope you have a good spell there alright, take care.”
