Raheem Sterling admits he was "intrigued" by Chelsea's progress under Thomas Tuchel during the last 18 months after signing a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The 27-year-old left Manchester City for the Blues in a £50million deal earlier this month. The transfer ended Sterling's seven-year spell at the Etihad, which saw him score 131 goals in all competitions and win 10 major trophies - including four Premier League titles.
Chelsea have achieved significant success under Tuchel since he succeeded Frank Lampard as manager in January 2021. Since then, the Blues have won the Champions League - beating City and Sterling in the final - as well as the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. They've also reached and lost two FA Cup finals and one EFL Cup final.
Sterling, who had one year remaining on his City contract before moving to Stamford Bridge, believes Chelsea can continue to compete for more trophies over the next 12 months. Tuchel's side have also signed experienced Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly, 31, from Napoli this summer.
"Seeing in the last two years it's four or five finals that you guys have been in, the progress, you won the Champions League and are now looking to challenge for the Premier League, it's something that intrigued me when I was having a conversation with the club," Sterling told Chelsea's website in his first interview since joining the club.
"Seeing the direction that you guys are going in, it's something I really bought into and I just felt it is a place where I can really come into my own. I just think it's the perfect platform for me.
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"The club's already got that winning mentality, but to keep doing it every single year and keep winning more and more trophies and building on the previous season, I think that's what top managers like Thomas do. It's not one year win and next year rest, it’s again and again and again and that's what excites me to be here."
Sterling has also opened up on his conversations with Tuchel and his pre-existing friendships with the likes of Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
"You can see how genuine he was and how much he wanted me here, and that was the nail on it for me," the England international added. "I was certain that this is a place I want to be. I know a few of the boys from the national team.
"Mase, Chilly, to name a few, and I've got a good connection with Callum already. I feel at home already and I'm just keep putting the work in and can't wait to gel even more with them. It's been a great first week, I am really settling in, I feel at home now.
"I say to the fans, thank you for your warm welcome. It's an exciting time for me. I know how much more I have to offer. I still feel within myself that there's another step that I've been fighting to get on to and I think this is the perfect platform for me to do that.
"Hopefully I can do that in person at the Bridge for many years to come and just keep bagging them goals in, simple as that!"
