Morgan Rogers has officially joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in a deal worth £117 million, making him the most expensive British footballer in history. The 23-year-old England international has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with an option for a further year.
Chelsea pursued Rogers for over two years, beating off competition from Arsenal, who valued the player at £80 million. The Gunners were unwilling to meet Aston Villa's asking price, allowing Chelsea to secure the record transfer.
The move is the first major signing under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, who held productive talks with Rogers. Upon finalising the deal, Rogers said: '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. I'm really excited about the project with the new manager.'
Rogers began his career at West Brom before moving to Manchester City in 2019. He had loan spells at Lincoln, Bournemouth and Blackpool, then joined Middlesbrough in 2023. He moved to Aston Villa for £8 million in January 2024, making 125 appearances and scoring 31 goals, including helping Villa win the Europa League.
On the international stage, Rogers made his senior England debut in November 2004 and has since earned 22 caps, scoring once. He represented England at the recent World Cup.
