Raheem Sterling, 31, is scheduled to appear in court next month to face charges related to a single-vehicle collision on the M3 motorway in Hampshire. The incident occurred on the morning of Thursday, May 28, 2026, when Sterling's Lamborghini crashed into motorway barriers.
According to a Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman, Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen. The collision involved no other vehicles, and no injuries were reported.
Sterling is due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on September 15. Police had initially suspected the former England winger of driving under the influence of drugs, but this was not included in the formal charges. A source close to Sterling previously told BBC Sport that there was no proof of drugs in his system and that the player had experienced a difficult period.
The 31-year-old has been without a club since departing Dutch side Feyenoord at the end of last season. He had joined Feyenoord on a short-term contract in February after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent. Sterling was signed by Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022 for £47.5 million, where he had a successful tenure winning four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and one FA Cup.
Prior to his time at Chelsea, Sterling played for Liverpool and was loaned to Arsenal in 2024. Following his return to Chelsea in 2025, he was reportedly separated from the first-team squad and trained independently. Sterling earned 82 caps for England between 2012 and 2022, participating in three World Cups and two European Championships.