Dutch side Feyenoord have temporarily relocated training to Belgium to enable new signing Raheem Sterling train with his team-mates while awaiting clearance to play in the Netherlands.
The 31-year-old England international sealed a move to the Rotterdam club last week after parting ways with Chelsea by mutual consent. However, delays in securing his work permit have prevented him from training or featuring in official activities within the Netherlands.
To resolve the situation, manager Robin van Persie moved the squad to Tubize, Belgium, approximately 137 kilometres from Rotterdam, allowing Sterling to immediately begin working with the team.
“One of the reasons is that Sterling can train with the team. But we can also work on our team culture there. It’s for Raheem and for those processes that we’re going to do this,” Van Persie explained.
Feyenoord are expected to return to Rotterdam following Wednesday’s session, with hopes that Sterling’s documentation will be finalised ahead of Sunday’s home fixture against SC Telstar.
Sterling brings a wealth of experience, having previously played for Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal before his stint at Chelsea. Reports indicate that nearly 18 clubs across England and Europe expressed interest in signing the forward before he opted for a move to the Eredivisie outfit.
The 16-time Dutch champions currently sit second in the league standings, trailing leaders PSV Eindhoven by 14 points. On the international stage, Sterling has scored 20 goals in 82 appearances for England, though he has not featured for the national team since 2022.
