Soccer
Morgan Rogers has become the most expensive British player of all time after completing a £117m move to Chelsea from Aston Villa.
Rogers, fresh from helping England finish third at the World Cup this summer, has put pen to paper on a seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old’s record-breaking switch sees him eclipse the £116m Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest for fellow England international Elliot Anderson earlier this summer.
He is also Chelsea’s most expensive arrival, overtaking Moises Caicedo, who joined the Blues from Brighton for £115m three years ago.
Arsenal had been heavily linked with signing Rogers, but Chelsea pipped their London rivals to the post.
And Rogers feels he is joining the capital’s biggest club.
“I’m so excited,” said Rogers. “For me, Chelsea are the biggest club in London and a club I’ve always admired since I was a kid.
“I’m really excited about the project with the new manager, the players we’ve got and where the club is heading. That’s why I’m here and I can’t wait to get started.”
He chose Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/V6NrGsuZH9
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 21, 2026
Rogers joined Villa from Middlesbrough in January 2024 and went on to become a key part of Unai Emery’s side, making 125 appearances across all competitions.
He registered 56 goal involvements (31 goals, 25 assists) for Villa, a total only Ollie Watkins (74 – 50 goals, 24 assists) can beat for the Villans since Rogers’ arrival.
In fact, his goal contribution tally is only bettered by Watkins, Cole Palmer (67) and Jarrod Bowen (57) among English players from the Premier League since his debut.
Rogers scored as Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final in May to end their 44-year wait for a European title.
Rogers’ 58th-minute strike in that contest saw him become the youngest Englishman (23 years, 298 days) to score in a major European showpiece since Steven Gerrard for Liverpool vs Alaves in the 2001 UEFA Cup final (20 years, 351 days).
During the 2025-26 campaign, Rogers managed 14 goals and 11 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions.
He started in three of England’s matches at the World Cup.
Rogers became the first Villa player to score or assist a goal for England in the World Cup since James Milner in 2010 (assist for Jermain Defoe against Slovenia) when he teed up Anthony Gordon in the Three Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals.
The attacker becomes Chelsea’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda.
Villa, meanwhile, are reportedly in talks to sign Alejandro Garnacho from the Blues.
Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign on August 24 away to London rivals Fulham, which will see Alonso square off against Alvaro Arbeloa, the man who succeeded him at Real Madrid.
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