RAHEEM STERLING is running out of time to find himself the chance to play Champions League football this season.
Former England ace Sterling, 31, finally tied his frayed bonds with Chelsea last week, leaving Stamford Bridge by mutual consent 21 months after his final appearance for the Blues.
The decision made Sterling a free agent and able to sign for clubs after the winter transfer window closes this evening [Monday].
But Uefa regulations mean clubs left in the knock-out stages of the three competitions have to confirm their full list of squad players by midnight on Thursday.
Those regulations allow clubs to make a maximum of three changes from the squads that were announced for the initial league phase of the competitions after the closure of the summer window.
Even if Sterling was to join a European club, he could not be added to their Uefa roster after the break.
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And it adds to the pressure on Sterling to find a new home to play if he wants to have a role at an elite club this season.
Sterling has played Champions League football for four Prem sides in his career at Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and last term’s loan spell at Arsenal.
He is yet to win the competition, with his only Final appearance in City’s defeat by Chelsea in 2021.
Indeed, the last of his 27 Champions League goals came for Chelsea, the opener in a 2-0 home win over Borussia Dortmund in March 2023.
Sterling was part of Arsenal’s group for the competition last season but he only played six times.
Those appearances clocked just 300 minutes and two assists.
Both of the assists came in an effective last-16 dead rubber with Arsenal already 7-1 up on aggregate.
He did not play again in either the quarter-finals or semis as Arsenal beat Real Madrid but lost to PSG.
In fact, Sterling was banned for the first leg against Madrid after picking up three yellow cards in his brief cameos before that.
The 2023-24 season for Sterling at Chelsea was the only time he has not played in any form of European competition since his senior career began 11 years prior.
Sterling had been a Champions League player for nine consecutive seasons between 2014 and 2023.
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