Feyenoord organised a short Belgian camp so Raheem Sterling can train despite a delayed Dutch work permit, a pragmatic workaround designed to accelerate his integration and assess match readiness.
Raheem Sterling has begun training with Feyenoord — but not yet on Dutch soil. Because his Dutch work permit is still being processed, the club has moved his early sessions across the border to Belgium so he can start regaining fitness and rhythm immediately.
Why Belgium?
Dutch immigration rules prevent Sterling from taking part in first-team activities in the Netherlands until formal clearance arrives. Rather than letting him lose more time after months without competitive football, Feyenoord arranged a short training camp in Belgium where those domestic restrictions don’t apply.
The move keeps his preparation on track while the club completes the paperwork.
What the camp will do
Feyenoord staff have put together a tailored programme to rebuild Sterling’s match readiness. That work mixes aerobic conditioning, ball drills and gradually ramped-up intensity, plus tactical briefings so he can learn the team’s patterns.
The emphasis is on measured progress: medical and performance teams will monitor recovery markers, load tolerance and metrics such as distance covered and high-intensity runs, adjusting the plan day by day.
Manager Robin van Persie has stressed that Sterling will be brought back carefully. Expect controlled minutes at first — likely off the bench or in lower-risk roles — to protect his sharpness without overloading him physically. The coaching staff will prioritise positions and responsibilities that play to his attacking strengths while limiting defensive exposure as he rebuilds form.
Practical steps in reintegration
– Individual conditioning: low-intensity aerobic work and sport-specific drills to rebuild fitness safely. – Technical reintegration: targeted ball work and movement exercises to restore touch and decision-making. – Tactical briefings: classroom and on-field sessions to align him with current strategies. – Controlled contact: small-sided games and supervised physical work to reintroduce competitive challenges. – Match simulation: progressive minutes in practice matches before full first-team selection.
Why it matters for club and country
Getting Sterling on the pitch sooner rather than later matters for Feyenoord’s short-term plans and for his longer-term prospects. A clear, productive role at club level would strengthen his case for international selection; conversely, a slow restart could leave him on the periphery. For Feyenoord, successful integration would validate the signing and add attacking options for the second half of the season.
Legal and logistical note
Feyenoord’s approach is a straightforward, compliant response to administrative limits: the club respected Dutch law by training Sterling outside the country while the permit is finalised. Once the work permit is granted, he will return to the Netherlands to continue his phased reintegration with the first team.
Next steps
Feyenoord will keep monitoring his progress in Belgium and complete the permit formalities as they proceed. Expect updates as soon as the club clears him to resume training in Holland and moves him closer to match action.
