It’s been reported in a number of media outlets (Adam Leventhal@TheAthletic the latest to report on this), that’s it all been confirmed that Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling will join Rangers ahead of the 2023-2024 season.
Sterling (No relation to Raheem btw) was highly thought of at Chelsea, however it appears that due to the large squad that they have a number of their academy players/home grown players are being allowed to leave the club.
However Sterling is not what you would term a youth player by any means, he’s 23 years of age (turns 24 in October) and has experience of playing in League One and the Championship in England. He has impressed on loan in the past two seasons at Blackpool & Stoke.
Interestingly he is predominately a right back by trade, which means that hopefully at last Tav will have real competition on his hand.
At the same time he can also cover at left back, RM, and play as a right sided centre half if required, so we would be getting versatility from the lad.
Yes Sterling has not played at the highest level down south, but our current right back and captain had only played two games in the EPL before going out to clubs in League One and the Championship.
Over the past two seasons he has played 50 games in the English Championship, which is a not bad standard compared to much of what goes on in the SPL, but he is not an assist or goal machine like Tav. The lad has also come through a great Academy at Chelsea, which by all accounts is a great place to develop as a player – granted not everyone makes it but they do have a good history at producing excellent players over the years. Sterling has also represented England right up to U20 level, and he was part of their U19 team that won the Euros in 2017 where he was named in the team of the year.
Downside is maybe he’s not developed into the player that Chelsea & England youth coaches thought he would be (as he played with the likes of Ramsdale, James, Mount, Trevor Chalobah, Ryan Sessegnon & Marcus Edwards in the England Team), but this could be the platform that he needs to launch his career to bigger and better things. Unlike Bassey this lad has experience of first team football & he will want to prove himself at a higher level to show those at Chelsea that they were wrong to let him go.
The mess that has taken place at Chelsea is going to be other club’s gain, as there will be a number of homegrown players let go this summer coming in an effort to please the number of players they have in their first team squad – so why not take advantage of their mess.
He might not be a household name, but at only 23 and being a free transfer, it could be a risk worth taking – and if the risk pays off, then we could be looking at a good profit from this player.