Morgan Rogers spent years in the shadows of loan moves before Chelsea’s club-record £117 million signing thrust him into the spotlight. The forward’s path to Stamford Bridge was anything but straightforward, marked by difficult spells at Bournemouth and Blackpool that saw his market value plunge from £9 million to just £1 million.
Rogers, once one of West Bromwich Albion’s brightest academy talents and a regular England youth international, struggled to make the jump from academy football to senior professional ranks. Speaking to Chelsea’s club channel, he described those early years as a period where he had to “take knocks” and learn resilience. “I needed that next challenge, to be taken out of my comfort zone and find the player I was going to be in professional football,” he said. “The academy player I was, if you watch me then, is not the same player I am now. I am a completely different player. I had to learn that on loan.”
His first loan to Lincoln City in League One under Michael Appleton offered a glimpse of his potential. Appleton, who had coached Rogers at West Brom’s academy, signed him shortly after lockdown and saw a confident young player emerge. Rogers scored six goals and provided two assists in 28 appearances, helping Lincoln reach the play-off final, which they lost to Blackpool. Appleton recalls Rogers volunteering to mark tall opposition players during set-pieces despite being a teenager on his first loan. “He was full of confidence because he was playing well, but he took the defensive side of the game just as seriously as trying to impact the opposition’s box,” Appleton said.
The step up to the Championship with Bournemouth proved tougher. Rogers started only three matches and scored once, against Luton Town. Former scout Des Taylor described him as a “slow burner” during his time there. Taylor explained that Bournemouth signed Rogers late in the transfer window with the intention of using him as a number 10, but then-manager Scott Parker’s tactics did not favour that role. “I don't think it was a great time for him because he wasn't getting game time and, when he did, it wasn't in the position he wanted. It was no fault of Scott's, but it didn't work out,” Taylor said.
Steve Cook, a former Bournemouth teammate, said Rogers’ character helped him push through setbacks. “He didn’t let it stop him. First and foremost, he was a really good lad. He was energetic away from the football pitch and I think that character has helped take him to where he is now,” Cook said. “He's a great example that not every journey is straightforward. You need setbacks to make you hungry and appreciate what you've got.”
Rogers’ loan at Bournemouth was cut short, and an injury delayed his next loan move to Blackpool until January. The switch reunited him with Michael Appleton, now in charge at Blackpool, but Appleton was sacked after just two weeks. Mick McCarthy took over, and Rogers made 20 appearances, scoring once as Blackpool were relegated to League One after appointing a third manager in April. Appleton said, “I don’t think he played as much as he would have liked after that, but he dealt with it professionally and in the right way.”
During this period, Rogers said he struggled with self-doubt and the pressure of watching former teammates get ahead. His family and friends kept him grounded, even as his best friend in football, Cole Palmer, moved to Chelsea for £42.5 million without needing loan spells to establish himself at Manchester City. Meanwhile, Rogers transferred to Middlesbrough for just £1 million.
A strong run of form at Middlesbrough, with five goals and three assists during their six-game Carabao Cup run to the semi-finals, attracted Aston Villa’s interest. His former West Brom coaches, now at Villa’s academy, helped facilitate an £8 million move in the winter window. By that time, Palmer had already broken into the senior ranks at Manchester City.
Rogers’ progression from a player whose value dropped drastically to a record signing for Chelsea illustrates a difficult but determined climb through English football’s tiers. Chelsea confirmed the £117 million deal, making Rogers their most expensive signing, a figure that underscores the club’s belief in his potential despite earlier setbacks.
According to Yahoo Sports.
