Dujon Henriques Sterling (born 24 October 1999) is an English footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

Dujon Sterling
Sterling playing for Chelsea in 2018
Personal information
Full name Dujon Henriques Sterling[1]
Date of birth (1999-10-24) 24 October 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth Islington, England
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
Rangers
Number 21
Youth career
2007–2017 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2023 Chelsea 0 (0)
2018–2019Coventry City (loan) 38 (0)
2019–2020Wigan Athletic (loan) 8 (0)
2021–2022Blackpool (loan) 24 (0)
2022–2023Stoke City (loan) 26 (0)
2023– Rangers 28 (0)
International career
2014–2015 England U16 5 (0)
2015–2016 England U17 8 (0)
2016–2018 England U19 25 (1)
2019 England U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:23, 30 March 2024 (UTC)

He started his career at Chelsea and had loans spells with Coventry City, Wigan Athletic, Blackpool and Stoke City.

Club career

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Chelsea

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Sterling joined Chelsea in 2007 at under-8 level and made his under-19 debut in a UEFA Youth League fixture against Sporting CP in December 2014.[3] Although, recently Sterling has been deployed as a wing-back, he has also been played as a winger or centre-forward and impressed during Chelsea's 2015–16 FA Youth Cup campaign, netting in both the semi-final and final.[4] Following an impressive campaign, Sterling was promoted to the U23 squad for the 2016–17 season as a 16-year-old and became a key figure, featuring twenty-four times and scoring four goals.[5] In October 2016, Sterling signed his first professional contract upon his 17th birthday.[3]

On 20 September 2017, Sterling made his Chelsea debut during their EFL Cup third round tie against Nottingham Forest, replacing Davide Zappacosta for the final 14 minutes of the 5–1 victory at Stamford Bridge.[6]

Loan to Coventry City

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On 27 June 2018, it was agreed that Sterling would join newly promoted League One side Coventry City on a season-long loan.[7]

Loan to Wigan Athletic

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On 1 August 2019, Sterling joined Championship side Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan deal.[8]

Loan to Blackpool

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On 31 August 2021, Sterling returned to the Championship with Blackpool on a season-long loan deal after he signed a two-year contract extension with Chelsea.[9] He competed with Jordan Gabriel for the right-back berth, covered at left-back when injuries dictated, and made up part of a back three on occasion. He made 25 appearances for Blackpool in all competitions.[10]

He damaged his ankle ligaments in a match in early April 2022 and returned to Chelsea for treatment. His loan was kept active, however. At the end of the season, he posted on Twitter: "Big thanks to all the players, gaffer, coaches and staff for making my time at the club so positive." Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was reportedly impressed with Sterling's season, and informed him to prepare for the pre-season schedule.[10]

Loan to Stoke City

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On 1 September 2022, Sterling joined Stoke City on loan for the 2022–23 season.[11] Sterling made 28 appearances for Stoke as they finished in 16th position.[12]

Rangers

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On 30 May 2023, it was announced that Sterling had signed a four-year deal with Rangers.[13] Sterling was praised by Rangers manager Phillipe Clement for his versatility after performing well in central midfield during an injury crisis against Real Betis in a key Europa League fixture.[14]

Sterling won his first silverware in professional football when he won the 2023-24 Viaplay League Cup with Rangers, when they beat Aberdeen 1-0 in the final. Sterling was voted man of the match.[15]

On 7 March 2024, Sterling scored his first senior goal in the 5th minute of first half stoppage time against Benfica, off a cross from Fábio Silva, to put Rangers 2-1 ahead in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 tie.[16]

International career

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Sterling was born in England to Jamaican parents.[17] Sterling has represented England from under-16 to under-20 level. He represented England Under-17 at the 2016 U-17 Euros[18] and was included in the team of the tournament.[19]

In September 2016, Sterling made his debut for the England Under-19 team in a 1–1 draw against the Netherlands.[20] In June 2017 he was selected to represent England at the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.[21] Despite a Sterling own goal, England defeated Portugal 2–1 in the final.[22] He was subsequently named in the team of the tournament.[23]

Career statistics

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As of match played on 30 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea U23 2016–17 2[a] 0 2 0
2017–18 6[a] 0 6 0
Total 8 0 8 0
Chelsea 2017–18[24] Premier League 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
2021–22[25] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23[12] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Coventry City (loan) 2018–19[26] League One 38 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 40 0
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2019–20[27] Championship 8 0 1 0 1 0 10 0
Blackpool (loan) 2021–22[25] Championship 24 0 1 0 0 0 25 0
Stoke City (loan) 2022–23[12] Championship 26 0 2 0 0 0 28 0
Rangers 2023–24[28] Scottish Premiership 17 0 1 0 4 0 5[b] 1 27 1
Career total 113 0 6 0 7 0 5 1 9 0 140 1
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

Honours

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Chelsea U23[3]

Rangers

England U19

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Wigan Athletic" (PDF). English Football League. p. 76. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Dujon Sterling". 11v11. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Dujon Sterling". TheChels.info. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea: The FA Youth Cup Final (first leg)". The FA. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Dujon Sterling". Chelsea Official Site. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Chelsea 5-1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Chelsea's Sterling in Coventry loan". BBC Sport. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Latics complete season-long loan signing of Chelsea's Dujon Sterling". Wigan Athletic F.C. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Sterling's contract and switch to Championship". Chelsea F.C. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Chelsea's Dujon Sterling bids farewell as Blackpool loan comes to an end". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Neil secures Sterling loan". Stoke City. September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "Games played by Dujon Sterling in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  13. ^ "Rangers Confirm Signing Of Dujon Sterling". www.rangers.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  14. ^ "'Versatile' Sterling helped Clement 'find a solution'". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Rangers win the Viaplay Cup | SPFL".
  16. ^ "Benfica 2-2 Rangers". BBC Sport. 7 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Dujon Sterling". worldfootball.net.
  18. ^ "England Under-17s squad named for Euro Championship". The Football Association. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  19. ^ a b "2016 UEFA under-17 Team of the Tournament". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  20. ^ Association, The Football. "England U19s held to draw by Dutch but seal shoot-out win". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  21. ^ "England squad selected for UEFA European Under-19 Championship". The Football Association. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  22. ^ a b "European Under-19 Championship: England beat Portugal in final". BBC Sport. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  23. ^ a b "2017 UEFA under-19 Team of the Tournament". UEFA.com. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by Dujon Sterling in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by Dujon Sterling in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  26. ^ "Games played by Dujon Sterling in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  27. ^ "Games played by Dujon Sterling in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  28. ^ "Games played by Dujon Sterling in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  29. ^ "Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen". BBC. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
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