Bounty Killer Declares Raheem Sterling A “Jamaican National Treasure” After Move To Chelsea FC
On the heels of Jamaican-born English footballer Raheem Sterling’s move from Manchester City to Chelsea, Bounty Killer has described the Kingston native, who is also Jamaica’s tourism ambassador in Europe, and one of England’s most expensive footballers, as a “national treasure”.
Chelsea completed the signing of Sterling from Manchester City on Wednesday, with the winger signing a five-year deal, in a transfer worth 47.5 million pounds (US$56.5 million), this after spending what Manchester has described as “a magnificent seven-year stay” at the club which yielded a plethora of accolades including four Premier League titles.
Manchester City has described Sterling as “one of the Club’s greatest modern-day players, making 339 appearances and scoring 131 goals” during his time there.
Sterling scored 91 Premier League goals for Manchester City, second only to Argentinian national Sergio Aguero, and exited the Club as its 11th highest goal-scorer of all time. He also has the distinction of being the Club’s second-highest scorer of all-time in European football, with 24 Champions League goals second only to Aguero’s 43.
“One of Jamaica’s national treasure congrats bredda if you’re a Jamaican and not feeling proud right now then you’re numbed or paralyzed🍾🎈🎉🥳🙏🏾,” Bounty stated, of the 27-year-old, who is also serving as the global face of Destination Jamaica, through various engagements and public-relations opportunities to mark Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence.
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The Warlord also shared Sterling’s note to his former club and fans in which the footballer said his time at City was, among other things, a lifetime of memories, spanning seven seasons and eleven major trophies an that it had “been an honour to wear the shirt of Manchester City”.
“To the coaching staff who have played a massive role in my development over the years, to my teammates who have become more than just those I share a pitch with, to the backroom staff, to the office staff, to the fans who have tirelessly supported the team, and to everyone involved with Manchester City, my respect for you couldn’t be greater,” the footballer noted.
“What a ride it’s been… I am thankful for the ups and the downs. As it’s the downs that have, at times, tested my strength and resolve, and enabled me to stand here in front of you as the best possible version of myself… I arrived in Manchester a 20-year-old, today, I leave as a man. Thank you for your endless support…,” he added.
Sterling had joined Manchester City from Liverpool in July 2015, in a deal that saw him become the most expensive English signing ever at that stage. He made his debut a month later in a 3-0 win away to West Brom and scored his first City goal against Watford at the end of August.
Sterling made his senior debut for England in November 2012 after representing that country at the under-16, under-17 , under-19 and under-21 levels. He was picked for England’s squads for FIFA World Cup games in 2014 and 2018 and the UEFA European Cups in 2016 and 2020.
Earlier this year, Sterling, flew to Jamaica during the visit of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate’s Royal visit where he participated in an exhibition match as part of the festivities for the in Trench Town, as part as his tourism ambassador duties.
At the time the 27-year-old, who was born in Kingston and spent his formative years in Marverly, and who is a lover of Reggae and Dancehall, had told Television Jamaica’s Anthony Miller that he liked Jahshii’s music as “the message that he’s pushing across in terms of the positivity, the struggle that he’s been through and he’s right. And that’s my sort of music – cultural music”.
September last year, Sterling launched his 1692 clothing brand, during London Fashion Week, for which several Dancehall and Reggae stars were special guests, among them Popcaan, Beenie Man, and Lila Ike. The brand was named after the 1692 earthquake that sunk two-thirds of the city of Port Royal, which was then a major pirate hub called “the wickedest city in the world”.
In mid-2020, Sterling partnered with Clarks footwear company to market a special collection of Desert Clarks and Wallabee double branded shoes for the 70th anniversary of the popular Clarks Desert Boot, which has been long-celebrated in Reggae and Dancehall music. The collaboration turned out to be a massive hit, selling out in eight minutes after the collection was made available on August 8.