Raheem Sterling, the former England international, has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving after his Lamborghini crashed into barriers on the M3 motorway.
The 31-year-old, who now plays for Dutch side Feyenoord, was taken into custody shortly before 9am on Thursday 28 May after the single-vehicle collision near the Minley Interchange in Hampshire. Hampshire Police confirmed that a 31-year-old man from Berkshire had been arrested on suspicion of driving a vehicle while unfit through drugs, dangerous driving, possession of Class C drugs, and failing to provide a specimen. He has since been released on bail pending further inquiries. No injuries were reported, and police said no other vehicles were involved.
According to a source close to Sterling, the incident caps what they described as an “extremely tough couple of years” for the footballer, adding that “this incident encompasses that”. The source said the crash “brings into spotlight the modern treatment of players who are no longer ‘fit for purpose’”, and that the “psychological strain that has put on him is immeasurable”.
Career decline and psychological toll
Sterling’s career has undergone a dramatic downturn since he left Manchester City, where he won four Premier League titles and individual honours including the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year in 2019. After a difficult spell at Chelsea — during which his contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2026 — he spent a lacklustre loan season at Arsenal before joining Feyenoord as a free agent in February on a contract running until the end of the current season.
The source close to Sterling revealed that he has felt “worthless” and “forgotten about” during this period, and that his decision to move to the Netherlands was an attempt to “escape and rediscover his love for the game”. However, they added that the “negativity has followed”. The source’s comments point to a broader critique of how elite football clubs and the public discard players once their perceived usefulness wanes, leaving them to deal with immense mental health pressures in isolation.
Class C drugs, which Sterling is alleged to have been in possession of, include tranquilisers such as Valium, steroids and laughing gas — substances that can be obtained legally but are controlled under UK law. The arrest on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs suggests police believe Sterling may have been under the influence of such a substance at the time of the crash.
At Feyenoord, Sterling has struggled to secure a regular starting place, accumulating limited minutes and failing to produce the form that once made him one of England’s most feared attackers. The club’s head coach, Robin van Persie, has publicly defended the player, criticising the “cynicism” and lack of respect shown to him while pointing to his extensive career achievements. Despite that backing, Feyenoord have reportedly decided against extending his contract beyond the current season.
Sterling, who was capped 82 times for England and played in three World Cups and Euro 2020, was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to racial equality in sport. He founded the Raheem Sterling Foundation that same year to empower young people. But the source emphasised that the “psychological strain” of being sidelined and publicly discarded has taken a heavy toll, and that Thursday’s arrest is a symptom of a deeper crisis affecting a player who was once considered one of the most valuable in world football.
Hampshire Police continue their investigation into the collision.
