Sterling becomes most expensive English footballer

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Raheem Sterling became the most expensive English footballer in history when
he signed for Manchester City from Liverpool on a five-year contract, the England
forward’s new club announced on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old completed his move to the 2014 Premier League champions after
passing a medical in a deal worth an initial £44million but could rise to £49
million ($76 million, 68 million euro).

“It’s a good feeling and this is really happy time for me and my family,”
Sterling told City’s official website late Tuesday.

“I’m just glad it’s all over and done with and I can’t wait to get on
the training field.

“The thing that excites me the most is the world class squad we have and
knowing we have a team that is capable of winning things year in, year out.”

The forecast move away from Anfield appeared imminent at the weekend as Sterling
stayed behind when Liverpool flew out for for their tour of Thailand, Australia
and Malaysia.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini rated his marquee signing as “one of the
best attacking players in world football”.

The Chilean said: “He is a young player with outstanding ability, and
I am sure the Manchester City fans will be very excited about seeing him in
action for the team.”

A statement released on City’s official website, www.mcfc.co.uk, confirmed:
“Manchester City are delighted to announce Raheem Sterling has joined the
club on a five-year deal.

“The 20-year-old England international’s transfer is a club record fee
for an English player and he also becomes City’s record signing.”

The Jamaican-born Londoner assumes the most expensive English footballer mantle
from Andy Carroll, who moved from Newcastle to Liverpool for £35 million but
never lived up to the tag.

Sterling, who will wear the number seven shirt, is now second only to Welshman
Gareth Bale on the all-time most expensive British player chart.

The headline capture brings the curtain down on a long-running transfer saga
involving the England international who was under contract at Liverpool until
2017.

But he had rejected a £100,000-a-week deal to extend his stay at Liverpool,
with the Reds finally accepting City’s third bid of the close season.

Sterling joined Liverpool from Queens Park Rangers in February 2010 for an
initial fee of £600,000, and the Loftus Road club will receive 20% of his fee.

Sterling’s arrival follows the lifting of financial fair-play sanctions by
UEFA against City, freeing the club’s Abu Dhabi stakeholders of their financial
shackles.

Sterling will now fly out to meet up with his new team-mates on tour in Australia
within the next 24 hours.

News of his departure from Anfield was also confirmed by Liverpool in an announcement
on their official website.

It said: “Liverpool Football Club can confirm Raheem Sterling has completed
a transfer to Manchester City. The 20-year-old departs Anfield after 129 appearances
and 23 goals for the Reds.

“Liverpool FC wishes Raheem well.”

On Monday Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had played down reports of a rift
over the restless forward.

“Contrary to probably the last week or so in terms of what was written,
Raheem and I have always remained very strong in our relationship and have been
right up until we left. So there’s no issue there,” he said from Bangkok.

In March, Sterling’s relationship with the Liverpool hierarchy became particularly
strained when, in an interview with the BBC given without the club’s approval,
he confirmed he had rejected the Reds’ latest contract offer.

Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, then added to the growing rift by saying his client
would not sign a new deal with Liverpool even for “£900,000 a week”.

Merseyside Police meanwhile have confirmed they are investigating Twitter threats
made towards Sterling and his three-year-old daughter.

“The language used in these tweets is abhorrent,” a Merseyside Police
spokesman told the Liverpool Echo.

“We are taking the incident extremely seriously and an investigation by
detectives in Liverpool CID is ongoing.

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