Chelsea Reassigns Sterling's No. 7 Shirt As Transfer Rumours Swirl

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Raheem Sterling has been stripped of his number seven shirt by Chelsea, continuing his exclusion from Enzo Maresca's first-team squad. Sterling was absent from Chelsea's matchday squad in their 2-0 loss to Manchester City. His representatives issued a statement before the game, seeking clarity on his future.

On Wednesday, Maresca confirmed that Sterling, along with 14 other players, was training separately from the main squad. Maresca suggested it would be better if the winger left the club. Following this, Chelsea announced that new signing Pedro Neto, who wore number 19 in his debut against City, had been given Sterling's old number seven shirt.

Joao Felix, another new arrival from Atletico Madrid, took the number 14 shirt. This number was previously worn by Trevoh Chalobah, who is also expected to leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes. The club made these changes public through an official announcement.

Sterling joined Chelsea in 2022 after a successful seven-year spell at Manchester City. During his time with Chelsea, he has made 59 Premier League appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists. Last season, he ranked third among Chelsea players for dribbles completed (45) and seventh for chances created (30).

Several clubs have shown interest in Sterling despite his reported £250,000 weekly wage being a potential hurdle. Juventus, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa are all linked with a move for the winger.

Sterling has also been excluded from Chelsea's squad for Thursday's Europa Conference League play-off against Servette. The Blues aim to secure a strong lead to take into the second leg in Switzerland next week.

The reshuffling of shirt numbers at Chelsea reflects broader changes within the team as they prepare for the new season. These moves indicate a significant shift in strategy under Maresca’s management.

Sterling’s future remains uncertain as he continues to train away from the first team. The situation highlights ongoing tensions and possible departures as Chelsea navigates through this transitional phase.