Deal confirmed
This article originally appeared on July 6 and has been updated with new information.
After Raheem Sterling confirmed his departure from Manchester City with a heartfelt letter on his Instagram account, thanking the club for helping him develop as a player. Chelsea confirmed the deal on Wednesday while on their US Tour in Los Angeles. Man City are expected to receive €56 million – a significant fee for a player with just one year left on his contract but less than the €64m City paid Liverpool for Sterling’s services in 2015.
The most expensive transfers between the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’
Danny Welbeck | 2014/15 | Man United -> Arsenal | Fee: €20m
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Last updated: 11 July 2022
Juan Sebastián Verón | 2003/04 | Man United -> Chelsea | Fee: €21.8m
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Robbie Keane | 2008/09 | Tottenham -> Liverpool | Fee: €24m
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Michael Carrick | 2006/07 | Tottenham -> Man United | Fee: €27.2m
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Samir Nasri | 2011/12 | Arsenal -> Man City | €27.5m
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Emmanuel Adebayor | 2009/10 | Arsenal -> Man City | €29.5m
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Robin van Persie | 2012/13 | Arsenal -> Man United | €30.7m
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Shaun Wright-Phillips | 2005/06 | Man City -> Chelsea | €31.5m
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Henrikh Mkhitaryan | 2017/18 | Man United -> Arsenal | €34m*
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*swap deal with Alexis Sánchez
Alexis Sánchez | 2017/18 | Arsenal -> Man United | €34m*
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*swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 2017/18 | Arsenal -> Liverpool | €38m
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Dimitar Berbatov | 2008/09 | Tottenham -> Man United | €38m
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Nemanja Matić | 2017/18 | Chelsea -> Man United | €44.7m
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Juan Mata | 2013/14 | Chelsea -> Man United | €44.7m
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Gabriel Jesus | 2022/23 |Man City -> Arsenal | €52.2m
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Kyle Walker | 2017/18 | Tottenham -> Man City | €52.7m
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Fernando Torres | 2010/11 | Liverpool -> Chelsea | €58.5m
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Raheem Sterling | 2015/16 | Liverpool -> Man City | €63.7m
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“Seven seasons, eleven major trophies, a lifetime of memories,” said Sterling on Instagram, ahead of his proposed move to Stamford Bridge. “What a ride it’s been. I am thankful for the ups and the downs. As it’s the downs that have, at times, tested my strength and resolve, and enabled me to stand here in front of you as the best possible version of myself. I arrived in Manchester as a 20-year-old, today, I leave as a man. Thank you for your endless support. It’s been an honour to wear the shirt of Manchester City.”
Quite notably, Sterling made a point of thanking entire sections of the Man City staff, but made no point of thanking manager Pep Guardiola personally. The two have reportedly struggled to get on over the course of the last two or three years and Sterling’s failure to nail down a regular starting role in the Spaniard’s side has been attributed to one of the main reasons why the England international pushed for a departure this summer.
Haaland, Sinisterra & Co. – The most expensive summer transfers in 2022
Luis Sinisterra | Feyenoord -> Leeds United | Fee: €25m
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Market value: €25m
Last updated: 13 July 2022
Yves Bissouma | Brighton -> Tottenham | Fee: €29.2m
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Market value: €35m (possible add-ons: €6m)
Karim Adeyemi | RB Salzburg -> Dortmund | Fee: €30m
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Market value: €35m
Sébastian Haller | Ajax -> Dortmund } Fee: €31m
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Market value: €35m
Diego Carlos | Sevilla -> Aston Villa | Fee: €31m
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Market value: €40m
Steven Bergwijn | Tottenham -> Ajax | Fee: €31.25m
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Market Value: €18m
Sadio Mané | Liverpool -> Bayern Munich | Fee: €32m
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Market value: €70m (possible add-ons: €9m)
Brenden Aaronson | RB Salzburg -> Leeds | Fee: €32.8m
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Market value: €25m
Nayef Aguerd | Stade Rennais -> West Ham | Fee: €35m
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Market value: €12m (possible add-ons)
Fábio Vieira | Porto -> Arsenal | Fee: €35m
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Market value: €25m
Sven Botman | Lille -> Newcastle | Fee: €37m
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Market value: €30m
Nuno Mendes | Sporting -> PSG (previously on loan) | Fee: €38m
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Market value: €40m
Federico Chiesa | Fiorentina -> Juventus (previously on loan) | Fee: €40m
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Market value: €70m + €12.6m loan fee (possible add-ons: €7.4m)
Vitinha | Porto -> PSG | Fee: €41.5m
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Market value: €30m
Kalvin Phillips | Leeds United -> Manchester City | €48.8m
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Market value: €50m
Gabriel Jesus | Manchester City -> Arsenal | €52.3m
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Market value: €50m
Raphinha | Leeds -> FC Barcelona | Fee: €58m
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Market value: €45m (possible add-ons: €9m)
Richarlison | Everton -> Tottenham | €58m
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Market value: €48m
Erling Haaland | BVB -> Man City | Fee: €60m
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Market value: €150m
Darwin Núñez | Benfica -> Liverpool | Fee: €75m
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Market value: 55 Mio. € (possible add-ons: €25m)
Aurélien Tchouameni | Monaco -> Real Madrid | Fee: €80m
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Market value: €60m (possible add-ons: €20m)
In his farewell letter, Sterling added: “To the coaching staff who have played a massive role in my development over the years, to my teammates who have become more than just those I share a pitch with, to the backroom staff, to the office staff, to the fans who have tirelessly supported the team, and to everyone involved with Manchester City, my respect for you couldn’t be greater.”
By selling Sterling, Man City will be able to turn a transfer profit this summer. Erling Haaland (from Dortmund) and Kalvin Phillips (Leeds) were signed for €109 million. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Pedro Porro (Sporting), Ko Itakura (Gladbach), and Roméo Lavia (Southampton) were all sold for significant transfer fees. As a result, City are expected to further add to their already impressive squad.
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