Manchester City star Raheem Sterling to set up his own agency as he prepares to negotiate new deal

Raheem Sterling is setting up his own football agency — and will even conduct his own contract negotiations with Manchester City.

The forward’s mother, Nadine Clarke, is listed as the sole director of 16ninetytwo Sports Management Limited as under FA rules players are prohibited from acting as intermediaries.

Sterling split from his long-term agent, Aidy Ward, last year and is due to begin talks with City at the end of the season when he will have two years left on his existing deal.

 Raheem Sterling is setting up his own agency and will conduct his own contract negotiations

The 26-year-old has no plans to bring in another advisor and will thrash out his own personal terms with legal advice provided by Northridge Law, whose clients include Sterling’s England colleague Jadon Sancho.

Sterling’s day-to-day involvement in 16ninetytwo is unclear but it is understood that while they have yet to sign up any clients, preliminary conversations have taken place with several players.

While it is still unusual for high-profile English players to become agents, Ryan Bertrand has acted as a consultant to his agency, First Access Sports.

Sterling intends to stay in the football industry after his playing career and is involved in another commercial vehicle, Raheem Sterling promotions, of which Clarke is also a director.

Sterling is following the example of Kevin De Bruyne, who negotiated his new contract himself

Sterling’s desire to take personal charge of his own career follows the example of team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, who this week signed a new four-year contract worth in excess of £350,000-a-week. 

The club’s talisman negotiated the deal himself, using Belgian lawyers Daan Buylaert and Sven Demeulemeester to finalise the paperwork.

Sterling’s current deal is worth £300,000-a-week if he triggers certain clauses and he will look for improved terms.

He has started just one of City’s last six matches and was an unused substitute for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Borussia Dortmund — which City won 2-1 with a last-gasp goal from Phil Foden — but remains an integral part of manager Pep Guardiola’s plans.

Sterling split from agent Aidy Ward last year and will receive legal advice from Northridge Law

‘Raheem has been so important here since we arrived,’ manager Guardiola said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game at home to Leeds United.

‘Nothing we’ve done so far would have been possible without him. Right now I decide because I see Riyad (Mahrez) and Phil (Foden) in incredible form. This is the only reason why. There isn’t another one.

‘They collaborate and compete with each other. See with Phil, the last 30 minutes against Dortmund, he created all the chances we had.

‘Riyad has been so decisive over the last month. Raheem is an important player, there is no doubt about that.’