The Gunners were linked with a few different attackers going into deadline day, but fans had a feeling that the former Manchester City man was the likeliest signing.
Talks accelerated between Arsenal and Chelsea for Sterling in the final hours of the window, and a deal was struck very late on deadline day.
Sterling is an Arsenal player now for the whole of this season, and Edu Gaspar has now delivered his verdict on the move.
Edu admits Raheem Sterling was never an option for Arsenal at the start of the window
Most Arsenal fans are delighted to see Sterling join the club on deadline day.
However, if you had gone up to a Gooner at the start of the window in June and offered the Chelsea man to them, most of them would’ve said no and walked away.
The decision-makers at Arsenal probably had a similar stance at that point.
Edu has confirmed that Sterling was not an option for Arsenal earlier in the window. It was only after he got a call in the final week that he decided to consider a move.
The Arsenal sporting director presented the option of signing Sterling to Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal board, and the move was approved.
After talks late on deadline day, Arsenal sealed the deal.
Edu told Arsenal.com: “Well, to be fair, we never planned really to sign him when we started the transfer window, just to be very transparent. For different reasons. But, we always say to everyone that you have to be prepared for every single scenario.
“So, when that opportunity came to me, and I checked the squad, I checked how he plays, and spoke to Mikel, of course. I spoke to Tim, our vice-chairman, to check if everyone is comfortable for the step we are going to take, and it makes a lot of sense.
“Yes, it makes a lot of sense to have someone like him because I’m pretty sure he is going to add a lot in the squad.
“He has experience, he understands more than anyone the league, he’s played in the Champions League many times. He won the Premier League a few times as well, so I think he can add a lot to our squad and I feel really happy to see someone like him in our squad.”
Arsenal Sporting Director Edu Gaspar with new signing Raheem Sterling at Sobha Realty Training Centre on August 30, 2024 in London Colney, England.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Have Arsenal paid a fee to Chelsea to sign Sterling?
Sterling was a late window opportunity for Arsenal.
A four-time Premier League winner available on a risk-free loan deal was always going to be tempting late in the window, but some fans were worried about the finances involved.
However, Edu has played a blinder in this deal.
Arsenal will not be paying any loan fee for Sterling, and the Gunners will cover less than 50 per cent of his wages for the remainder of this season.
That is incredible business, and if Sterling delivers for Arsenal, he could easily become the best signing of the summer in the Premier League.
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