Jorginho has expressed confidence that Raheem Sterling will quickly adapt and make an impact at Arsenal, ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham. Sterling joined the Gunners on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day and could make his debut this weekend with Arsenal facing a shortage of midfield options. Declan Rice is suspended, and both Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino are out injured, opening the door for Sterling to feature as a No. 10 or winger.
Jorginho, who played with Sterling at Chelsea, believes the 29-year-old is well-equipped to thrive under Mikel Arteta. Sterling also has familiarity with several Arsenal players, including Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz, which should ease his transition.
Sterling’s move to Arsenal comes after a difficult period at Chelsea, where new boss Enzo Maresca sidelined him and stripped him of his squad number. Despite these challenges, Jorginho is optimistic about Sterling’s prospects at his new club. “You know the club, especially Mikel and Edu, with what they are doing. You know who they are bringing in is just right, so something good is going to happen for sure,” Jorginho said.
Jorginho further emphasized how Sterling’s qualities will enhance Arsenal’s play, noting their previous understanding on the field: “When you see there’s a player you know, that you played with, and you know the qualities already, you know how they can help. You feel like you know how to give him the ball already, so you don’t need to get to know him.”
Sterling’s surprise move came as a shock to many, including Jorginho, who was caught off guard by the news: “It was the day of the game, I woke up and people were talking, I was like: ‘What?!’ Then we found out that he was coming, and he’s going to be great for us with his qualities.”
Jorginho himself has enjoyed a successful spell at Arsenal since joining from Chelsea in January 2023. He signed a new contract in May and has quickly established himself as a leader in the dressing room. The 32-year-old Italian has also begun working on his coaching badges, opening the door to a potential future in management.
Reflecting on his journey toward coaching, Jorginho admitted he initially resisted the idea. “My family, since I was 18 or 19, they’re like: ‘You’re gonna be a coach,’” he shared. “At first, I thought no way. But then Arsenal asked if I wanted to do my badges, and after the first session, I fell in love. Now, I think I will go for it.”
Jorginho concluded by recognizing the constant evolution of football, something he hopes to contribute to as a coach in the future. “Football is in a constant evolution, and it’s going to be changing always. It was different when I started, it was different in the middle, and when I’m going to finish, it’s going to be different.”