Sterling hits the jackpot

RAHEEM Sterling has committed his long-term future to Manchester City after verbally agreeing a new five-year mega deal. Sterling (right), who was on the bench last night as City beat Fulham 2-0 in the Carabao Cup — they face Leicester or Southampton in the quarter-finals — will become one of the club’s top earners on up to £300,000 per week and the best paid English footballer. It represents a considerable hike on his existing £180,000-a-week

deal in a move that is a major coup for boss Pep Guardiola. The size of the forward’s contract means he will become the first Englishman to surpass £100m in career earnings — including commercial deals and bonuses — before he reaches the age of 25 in December next year. Negotiations have been ongoing for months but Sterling is understood to have accepted the fresh terms, with the contract to be announced in the coming weeks. Sportsmail can also reveal that the 23-year-old is set to open an academy in London for children from deprived areas in the north of the capital. Sterling, who was raised by a single mother in the shadow of Wembley, wants to offer opportunities for disadvantaged kids. He is awaiting premises to become available from Brent Council. The England star admires youth worker Clive Ellington, who gave him a chance at amateur club Alpha & Omega and now hopes to give something back to the community.