Raheem Sterling has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for their Europa Conference League play-off first leg against Swiss side Servette, marking the second consecutive match the 29-year-old England forward has missed.
This comes after his omission from Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Manchester City.
Alongside the winger, defenders Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo were also absent from Chelsea’s A-list squad submitted to UEFA for Thursday’s match at Stamford Bridge.
The return leg is scheduled for August 29 in Switzerland. While the former LIverpool forward could still be included in the squad for the group stages, his current exclusion raises questions about his future at the club.
Sterling’s representatives had earlier called for “clarity” regarding his role at Chelsea, following his omission from the squad for the City game.
READ MORE: Chelsea Star Raheem Sterling Opens Up About England Absence
Despite Chelsea’s heavy spending of approximately £185 million on 11 new signings this summer, manager Enzo Maresca admitted that the squad’s size—exceeding 40 senior players—has made it difficult to accommodate everyone.
Maresca expressed his desire to keep Sterling but acknowledged the challenge of managing such a large squad.
Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in July 2022 for £50 million, Sterling has made 81 appearances for the club. However, his future at Stamford Bridge now seems uncertain as the club continues to navigate its crowded roster.
