Raheem Sterling made Champions League history on Thursday night after coming on during Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Atalanta.
Arsenal got this 2024/25 Champions League campaign off to a disappointing start as their match with last season's Europa League winners Atalanta ended as a goalless draw.
The match remained fairly cagey throughout, but the defining moment of the game certainly came as Arsenal keeper David Raya made a breathtaking double save to keep his side in the game after Atalanta had been awarded a penalty early in the second half.
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However, one Arsenal player did make history during the match as Sterling broke a record that could never be matched.
As he came on in the 73rd minute as a substitute for Bukayo Saka, Sterling became the first player ever to play for four different English clubs in the history of the Champions League.
Throughout his 12 year career, the winger has played in the European competition for four English clubs, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and, as of tonight, Arsenal.
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Although English legend David Beckham has featured in the Champions League for four different club, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, only one of them was English, meaning he does not match Sterling.
In fact, it is retired English midfielder David Batty that comes closest to matching Sterling's new record, as he featured in the Champions League for Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Newcastle United during his career.
Unfortunately for Sterling, despite the fact that all three of his previous clubs have won the Champions league in the last decade, none of them won it while he played there, meaning he will no doubt hope he can finally claim a winners medal with new club Arsenal.
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The 29-year-old completed a move to Arsenal on deadline day of the summer transfer window, joining from Chelsea on a season-long loan.
"It's an unbelievable feeling. It's really exciting," Sterling said. "It [the move] is one where we kind of left it late, but it's one I was hoping for.
"Looking at everything, I'm just, like, 'this is a perfect fit for me', and I'm super happy that we got it over the line."
Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, David Beckham, Raheem Sterling
Ben McCrum