RAHEEM STERLING reportedly snubbed an eye-watering transfer offer from Saudi Arabia last summer.
The Chelsea winger could have become one of the three highest-paid players in the Saudi Pro League.
However, he instead opted to remain at Stamford Bridge for another season.
According to the Telegraph, Sterling received an offer from the Middle East that would have trebled his Chelsea wages.
The 29-year-old reportedly earns £300,000-per-week at the West London club.
He would have become one of the highest earners in the league behind Cristiano Ronaldo, the report adds.
Sterling opted to reject the approach, though, having had no intention of leaving Chelsea after just one season.
The former England international joined the Blues from Manchester City in 2022 on a five-year deal.
He went on to score nine goals across all competitions in his debut campaign.
However, those goals were not enough to prevent a 14th placed finish, the club’s lowest since 1994.
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Sterling has already racked up five goals and six assists in the league this term, though, with only Cole Palmer providing more goal contributions for Chelsea in the Premier League.
He will be hoping to add to that tally against his old club on Saturday evening as Manchester City welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium.
A win for Mauricio Pochettino’s side could see them jump from 10th to seventh in the table as they look to remain in European contention.
Chelsea then have a chance to win their first trophy under Pochettino in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool next weekend.
Sterling won the competition five times with City, including four triumphs in a row between 2018 and 2021.