Chelsea places Raheem Sterling in three-man 'bomb squad' after transfer window closure

Chelsea have placed Raheem Sterling in a three-man "bomb squad" following the close of the summer transfer window, with the forward reported to be training separately from the first team and not in manager Enzo Maresca's plans.

The Daily Mail reported that Sterling, who earns around £325,000 a week, is at the centre of the trio of players struck from first-team consideration after the window shut. The report added that the 30-year-old has been "reluctant to give his club an easy route out," and that he is among those training apart from the main squad.

Chelsea's use of so-called "bomb squads" is not new this summer. The club sent several players away from first-team activities earlier in the window; the group has previously included names such as Ben Chilwell and Alfie Gilchrist, many of whom secured moves elsewhere in their search for regular football. The club recruited 10 new players during the summer and saw more than 20 depart on permanent, loan or free transfers as part of a broad squad overhaul under BlueCo ownership.

Sterling joined Chelsea in 2022 for a reported fee of £50 million and has struggled for consistent playing time since his arrival. According to the report, despite efforts to place several squad members on the transfer list throughout the summer, Sterling remained at Stamford Bridge when the window closed and has been earmarked among those removed from first-team contention.

The practice of isolating players who are not in a manager's immediate plans — having them train separately and effectively blocking them from first-team opportunities — has become a feature of Chelsea's summer activity. The club has used that approach to try to expedite moves for surplus players, though not every player targeted was able to complete a transfer before the deadline.

Enzo Maresca's squad management decisions, as described in the report, reflect a broader strategy from the club's leadership to reshape the roster quickly and decisively. Chelsea declined to comment to the Daily Mail on the specific composition of the squad or Sterling's situation.

The placement of Sterling in the three-man group leaves questions about his immediate future at the club. With the transfer window closed, any change in his status would now depend on the club's internal decisions or a move in future windows. Chelsea continue their domestic and European commitments with a squad that has been markedly altered over the summer as the club seeks both short- and long-term stability on and off the pitch.