Raheem Sterling to Appear in Court Over Dangerous Driving Charges

By Ihuoma Inyama

Former England international Raheem Sterling is set to appear in court next month after being charged with dangerous driving and possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation.

The 31-year-old was arrested following a single-vehicle crash involving his Lamborghini on the M3 southbound near the Minley Interchange in Hampshire on Thursday, 28 May 2026.

Sterling was subsequently released on bail while police continued their enquiries.

According to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, the footballer faces three charges: dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen.

No other vehicles were involved in the collision and no injuries were reported.

Sterling is due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on 15 September.

Police had previously suspected the former England winger of driving while unfit through drugs, although that allegation has not been included among the charges he is facing.

A source close to Sterling told BBC Sport in May that there was “no proof” of drugs in his system.

The source also said Sterling had experienced “an extremely tough couple of years” and had been made to feel “worthless” and “forgotten about”.

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Sterling’s uncertain club future

The court case comes at a difficult period in Sterling’s football career, with the forward currently without a club.

Sterling most recently played for Dutch side Feyenoord after joining the club on a short-term contract in February following his departure from Chelsea by mutual consent. He left Feyenoord at the end of last season.

His career has included successful spells at Liverpool and Manchester City before his £47.5 million move to Chelsea in 2022.

During seven years at Manchester City, Sterling won four Premier League titles, five League Cups and one FA Cup.

He later spent the 2024 season on loan at Arsenal. Following his return to Chelsea in 2025, however, he was left out of the first-team squad and trained separately from the senior group.

Sterling also enjoyed a lengthy international career with England, earning 82 caps between 2012 and 2022.

He represented the Three Lions at three World Cups and two European Championships.

The former Liverpool winger will now have to appear before the court in September as he faces the charges arising from the May collision.