New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has described Morgan Rogers as a “great signing”, expressing confidence that the England midfielder will strengthen the squad and form a strong partnership with Cole Palmer.
Speaking on Monday ahead of his first match in charge, a pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers, Alonso said he was delighted to welcome the 23-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa last week for a British record fee of £117 million ($157 million).
The Spaniard said Rogers was the ideal addition to Chelsea’s attacking options and would help make the team more competitive.
“It’s a great signing. I think that in that position, we needed an important player, and I’m sure there were not many better options than Morgan,” Alonso said.
Chelsea’s acquisition of Rogers signals the club’s ambition to improve after finishing 10th in the Premier League last season and missing out on European competition.
Alonso acknowledged the challenge of integrating Rogers into an attack that already includes Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevão Willian and fellow summer signing Geovany Quenda, but said he already has a clear plan.
“I have a plan. I have an idea. I can see them linking really well,” he said, referring to Rogers and Palmer, who are close friends.
“You need to have a good mix, good stability players, and players that can play with more freedom. If we get that balance right and put those special players in the right positions, we will be more competitive with and without the ball.”
Chelsea reportedly pursued Rogers for two years before securing his signature ahead of Arsenal, who declined to meet Aston Villa’s asking price.
The transfer eclipsed the previous British record set earlier this month when Manchester City signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million.
Alonso also praised Rogers’ versatility, noting that he is capable of operating in several attacking roles.
“One of his best qualities is that he’s flexible. He can play close to the striker, on the right, but I think he is more effective coming from the left,” Alonso said.
“We will play him where he enjoys his football and where he can build strong connections with the players around him. If we get those relationships right, it will significantly improve the quality of our game.”
Rogers is not part of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia after helping England finish third at the FIFA World Cup.
Chelsea will face Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday before travelling to Hong Kong for a pre-season fixture against Juventus on August 5.
