In his five years at Liverpool Sterling developed into one of the brightest young talents in the country. He made his senior debut as a substitute in March 2012, not long after his 17th birthday, and then enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Anfield the following season with 36 appearances for the Reds under Brendan Rodgers, as well as making his England debut.

It was as part of Liverpool’s much-vaunted attack in 2013/14, alongside Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, that Sterling’s Premier League career caught light with some big goals in an unlikely title charge. As well as netting in a comprehensive away win at Tottenham, he also bagged a brace against Arsenal and opened the scoring in a crucial victory over Manchester City, hitting double figures for goals in a season for the first time. His sparkling form saw him win the Golden Boy award in December 2014.

Sterling, operating predominantly from the flanks at this time, went on to hit 20 goal involvements the following season and scored against Chelsea in the League Cup semi-finals in January with a typically smart run and finish, though it wasn’t enough to get past Jose Mourinho’s side.

In the summer of 2015, a deal was agreed to take him from Merseyside to Manchester, making him the most expensive English player at the time. The winger’s first season at the Etihad was solid if unspectacular and saw him claim a first piece of silverware in the shape of the League Cup, however the arrival of Pep Guardiola as manager the following year elevated Sterling’s game to new heights.

Initially on the left of a 4-3-3, Sterling developed an uncanny knack of driving infield with explosive acceleration and smart close ball control. While Guardiola’s maiden campaign in England was a trophyless one, it undoubtedly laid the foundations for what was to come and a pair of late goals at the start of 2017/18’s title-winning season helped City gain crucial momentum. As well as hitting a record 100 points, they also secured the first of four consecutive League Cup triumphs that term, and Sterling finished with a then-career-high 23 goals to his name.

Those numbers continued to rise year on year as he honed an uncanny knack of arriving in the box to finish off incisive attacking moves. His 50th Premier League goal was scored on the opening weekend of 2018/19, a campaign in which he netted twice in the FA Cup final and converted the winning penalty in the League Cup final shoot-out as City claimed a domestic treble. His individual efforts in collective glory led to Sterling being named PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.

As forward reinforcements arrived and Guardiola’s City evolved, so too did Sterling’s role in the team, from pacey wideman to intricate build-up playmaker and even false nine. In 2019/20 he reached 30 goals in a season for the first time, aided by a penchant for hat-tricks that saw him hit four in the calendar year of 2019 and finish as the club’s top goalscorer that term.

His final two campaigns in Manchester were similarly productive as the team secured back-to-back league titles aided by big goals from the forward home and away against Arsenal in 2020/21, as well as his former club Liverpool and Wolves. He joined the Premier League’s 100 club in December 2021 and notched one of his most eye-catching City strikes with a curling effort from distance against Sporting Lisbon two months later.

Trophy success in Europe remains a target for Sterling. He has hit 24 goals on the continental stage, with 2021’s final defeat to Chelsea the closest he has come so far to lifting the Champions League. He leaves Man City having made 339 appearances and scored 131 goals.

Sterling made his debut for England in November 2012 and has been named in the squad for the four major international tournaments since. He has captained the Three Lions on four occasions, most recently in last month’s goalless draw with Italy.

A vocal campaigner against discrimination, Sterling was appointed MBE in 2021 for services to racial equality in sport and his foundation works in the capital to inspire greater social mobility for young people.