Sterling most recently played for Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie, having left Chelsea in January, but made just eight appearances in the Netherlands.
In four years at Chelsea – including a season-long loan at Arsenal – he made 59 league appearances after signing from Manchester City in 2022.
With City he won four Premier League titles, having started his senior career with Liverpool before moving to Manchester in 2015.
He is currently without a club.
In the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Sterling was made an MBE for services to racial equality in sport.
Sterling, who was seen listening attentively in the dock, was granted unconditional bail.
District Judge Kirsty Allman ordered a pre-sentence report to be carried out before the next hearing, where she will determine whether to sentence at the magistrates’ court or send it to crown court.
Sterling will next appear in court on 25 November, and has been disqualified from driving in the interim.