By Ayomide Otitoju
Chelsea have completed the signing of England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa in a deal worth a reported £117 million, making him the most expensive British player in history.
The 23-year-old signed an eight-year contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2033 after successfully completing his medical following England’s FIFA World Cup campaign.
Expressing his excitement, Rogers said joining Chelsea was a dream come true.
“I’m so excited. For me, Chelsea are the biggest club in London and a club I’ve always admired since I was a kid,” he said.
The England international added that he was attracted by the club’s long-term vision, the quality of the squad and the project under new manager Xabi Alonso.
The transfer surpasses the previous British record of £116 million paid by Manchester City to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest earlier this month. It also eclipses Chelsea’s previous club-record £107 million spent on Enzo Fernandez in 2023.
Chelsea had tracked Rogers for two years and beat Arsenal to his signature after Aston Villa insisted on a record transfer fee.
His departure is another major setback for Villa manager Unai Emery following the exits of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the expected transfer of Lucas Digne to Paris Saint-Germain.
In a farewell message, Aston Villa thanked Rogers for his professionalism and commitment, wishing him success in the next stage of his career.
Championship club Middlesbrough, where Rogers previously played, will receive 20 per cent of the transfer fee through a sell-on clause included in his move to Villa in 2024.
Rogers scored 21 Premier League goals in 85 appearances for Villa and played a key role in the club’s UEFA Europa League triumph over Freiburg in May. He also enjoyed an impressive campaign last season, registering 14 goals and 11 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions.
At Chelsea, Rogers is expected to compete for attacking midfield roles alongside Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian and fellow summer signing Geovany Quenda under Alonso.
Reports also suggest Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho could leave Chelsea before the transfer window closes following Rogers’ arrival.
Rogers is a close friend of Cole Palmer, with both players having progressed through Manchester City’s academy. Palmer’s trademark “cold” goal celebration was originally inspired by Rogers during his time at Middlesbrough.
Chelsea believe the signing underlines the club’s ability to attract elite talent despite missing out on European competition after finishing 10th in the Premier League last season.
Rogers is expected to join his new teammates after taking a short break following England’s run to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
