Thiago Sterling Kicks Off at Arsenal as Dad’s Career Unravels
Sometimes football isn’t just about the headlines or who scores the last-minute winner. It’s also about new beginnings. That’s exactly what’s happening in the Sterling household. Raheem Sterling, once the lightning bolt for England and Manchester City, is now watching his eight-year-old son Thiago make waves—by signing up with Arsenal’s famous Hale End academy.
If you caught the photos on Paige Milian’s social feed, you saw Thiago, not looking shy at all, beaming next to his proud parents and holding up that crisp Arsenal jersey. Milian didn’t hold back her excitement. She talked up Thiago’s intense dedication and work rate—traits his dad is definitely known for. She called this step "just the beginning" of her boy’s journey. It’s every parent’s dream, really. But not every kid gets to start out at a club with a track record like Arsenal’s when it comes to turning kids into stars.
While Thiago Looks Forward, Raheem Sterling Looks for Answers
It’s a wild contrast, though, because as one Sterling steps into Arsenal with big dreams, the other is in limbo. Raheem, 30, had a rough go during his loan at Arsenal for the 2024–25 season. One goal in 28 matches—the numbers just weren’t there. He’s back at Chelsea, but the news doesn’t look any brighter on that front. New boss Enzo Maresca has already made it pretty clear: Sterling isn’t in his plans for the next season. For a player of his experience, that’s a tough pill to swallow, and it opens up a sea of questions about where he might end up next.
Meanwhile, Thiago has been soaking up Arsenal life. To top things off, he got to walk onto the pitch alongside Bukayo Saka during a Champions League night. That’s a pretty cool introduction to life at a club that takes pride in its academy products. Saka’s story is familiar—joining Arsenal at age seven, starring in the youth ranks, and now lighting up the first team and the national side. If Thiago follows even part of that path, the excitement in the Sterling household is going to stick around.
Some folks wonder if the name helped Thiago through the door, but anyone who’s been around the youth game knows that a famous surname only gets you so far. It’s all about skill, hunger, and grit. Judging by the way his mom talks about him—and the look in that signing day photo—the youngest Sterling is eager to carve his own path.
As for Raheem, the coming months will say a lot. He still has the talent and experience to offer, but with Chelsea moving in a different direction, there’ll likely be new colors for him on the touchline. Until then, the spotlight at home is shifting. The next generation is already pulling on their boots in North London.