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Raheem Sterling has just a few hours remaining to sign for a new club if he is to compete in a European competition this season. Sterling left Chelsea last week by mutual consent and is now available to join a new club as a free agent.

The England international has not made a single appearance for Chelsea this season, with his last outing for the Londoners coming in May 2024.

Last season saw Sterling go on loan to Arsenal, where he made 28 appearances and helped the Gunners reach the Champions League semi-final and finish second in the Premier League.

Now that Sterling is without a club, he is able to sign for a new team on a free transfer at any point he wishes. However, there is a deadline fast approaching that the former Manchester City star could have in mind.

UEFA rules allow clubs to make changes to their squads for the second half of the season for the knockout stages of European competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

The deadline for changes to be made is at midnight on Thursday, February 5. So if Sterling is to compete in any European competition this season, he must sign for a new club before the end of today.

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Tottenham Hotspur have recently been linked with a move for the now-former Chelsea star, whose last competitive appearance came in May last year on the final day of the Premier League season against Southampton.

However, reports have since emerged that Spurs are not in the running to sign Sterling as a free agent, which leaves the future of the 31-year-old still up in the air.

Sterling's last appearance in a European competition came in March last year, where he helped Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven in the last-16 of the Champions League.

The 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium saw Sterling provide two assists, which saw the forward earn the player of the match award.

Paul Merson recently urged Spurs to try and sign Sterling to strengthen their forward options amid their current injury woes.

"They [Tottenham] need players in. Thomas Frank and Tottenham have been unlucky with Solanke, Kulusevski and Maddison all out," Merson said on Sky Sports News.

"I would bring Sterling in. I think it's a no-brainer on a free transfer. I really do.

"You don't want to start bringing every Tom, Dick and Harry in to try and stay up. They just need one or two players in and get their players fit."