Former Gunner finally receives work permit after free transfer | OneFootball

Former Arsenal loan winger Raheem Sterling has finally received his work permit to play for Feyenoord, after his new club had to take some unusual steps to involve him in training.

Photo via Feyenoord

Almost nine months after his last appearance for Arsenal, Raheem Sterling is still yet to play for anyone else in a competitive fixture.

After completing his loan move to north London, Sterling was frozen out by parent club Chelsea until the two parties managed to reach a contract termination agreement in January.

Sterling then signed for Feyenoord in mid-February, but he was initially unable to play for his new club as he waited on a work permit.

Photo via Feyenoord

TalkSPORT initially reported last Friday that Sterling had been blocked from training with Feyenoord until he received his work permit, so it was no surprise that he was absent from their matchday squad on the Sunday.

Feyenoord then took the unusual step of holding training in a different country this week, moving their sessions to Belgium to allow Sterling to join in.

“One of the reasons (for the training relocation) is that Sterling can train with the team,” Feyenoord manager and former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie told the media.

“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.”

Photo via Feyenoord

At the time, Feyenoord were hoping that Sterling’s work permit would be granted in time for their match against Telstar on Sunday, and the club have now confirmed that’s the case.

273 days after his final appearance for Arsenal, it looks like Sterling might finally play for a new team this weekend.