Raheem Sterling has reportedly taken a pay cut to join Arsenal from Chelsea, as the Blues will cover the rest of his high wages.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal does not have to pay Raheem Sterling his entire salary for the season on loan at the Emirates. In theory, the winger took a pay cut, but Chelsea are set to cover the more significant chunk that the 29-year-old attacker draws, meaning the Gunners got a brilliant deal in the process.
Arsenal’s Raheem Sterling deal revealed
Arsenal ahd to sign a new attacker, not necessarily a striker, but someone who can make up the numbers in the frontline. They ended up allowing Eddie Nketiah to join Crystal Palace, although this deal was agreed beforehand, while Reiss Nelson also left in the dying minutes on transfer deadline day.
With the latter’s exit, they had to bring in a replacement, and Arsenal opened talks for Raheem Sterling late in the window. The 29-year-old attacker was part of the ‘Bomb Squad’ at Chelsea, which is essentially a group of players banished from the first team setup by new manager Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling was in a position of power in some regards, and Arsenal took full advantage as the details of their deal are now clear. Director Edu Gaspar revealed that the 29-year-old attacker was not part of their thinking originally, and the late signing was essentially an opportunity the club took in the market to strengthen their attack.
As for the deal, Arsenal are paying less than half of Sterling’s £350,000-a-week contract, with Chelsea reportedly covering the rest. Moreover, they are not paying a loan fee, as the Gunners reportedly made clear their unwillingness to do so. Hence, on paper, it does appear like a pay cut that Sterling has taken ahead of his switch to north London, but in truth, he is paid his total wages, albeit only a tiny chunk, by Arsenal.
A fantastic deal for Arsenal
If the repots that Arsenal are paying less than half of Sterling’s wages, it’s a fantastic deal from their perspective. The Gunners did not want to commit to a long-term deal for the 29-year-old attacker, and even without paying the loan fee, they are essentially paying, which is similar to what Nketiah used to draw or even slightly more.
Hence, the deal does not make a significant dent financially for Arsenal, who are happy to take a player that Mikel Srteta knows well and who fits their system very well. Should the Gunners go on to win the Premier League, and if Sterling does play a starring role, Chelsea might have paid millions to the player to feature for their hated London rival and win the title in the process, which does appear catastrophic.
