After weeks of speculation, Raheem Sterling's £47.5m transfer to Chelsea almost happened in a flash.
On Wednesday lunchtime the 27-year-old published a farewell letter on his social media channels, a few hours later Chelsea announced his signing and shortly after photos emerged of Sterling taking part in his first training session with his new club.
Sterling flew straight to Los Angeles to take part in Chelsea's pre-season tour, meaning that he will get a full pre-season to bed in with his new teammates. While the Chelsea fanbase appears to be split on the signing of the England attacker, his new teammates are certainly excited to get to work with him.
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On Wednesday, Mason Mount and Reece James - two players Sterling knows fairly well from international duty - had their say on the new arrival. Both were happy that a player of such calibre had chosen to join their club, but they also honed in on some of Sterling's particular qualities that Manchester City are really going to miss.
"Playing against him is a nightmare so I’m pretty happy that he’s here now and I don’t need to play against him anymore," said 22-year-old right-back James.
"The way he plays, he’s so small and sharp. He looks small but you don’t realise how strong he is. He never stops and is always trying to run in behind and stuff.
"I remember he had a good game in the Champions League final. It was an even battle - he beat me a few times and I won duels a few times as well so it was a tough game between us."
His Chelsea teammate Mount added: "It's very tough when you play against him. You can see by the numbers and what he's done in his career, especially from a young age, that he demands a lot from himself. He’s dangerous anytime he has the ball. When he doesn't have the ball, he’s a massive threat so for him to now be with us, we're delighted."
While Sterling was inconsistent during his last two seasons at City, it's undeniable that his departure means City now lack his profile of a small, sharp and pacey winger capable of running in behind defences on either flank. His personality and leadership qualities will also be missed.
"He can be quiet and he can be loud as well but he’s great to be around and a top guy off the pitch. He will bring good energy," said James. "He’s someone I've learned off and will continue to learn from the leadership side."
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