Morgan Rogers has joined Chelsea for a British record transfer fee of £117m, the club announced on Monday.
The 25-year-old England midfielder signed a six-year contract with an option for a further year after undergoing a medical in London.
“I’m joining the biggest club in London,” Rogers said in his announcement video. “The way the club wants to go and how it wants to move forward is something I want to be a part of. I think it was just perfect for me. I just can’t wait to get going.”
Rogers’ move comes as a genuine transfer window shock, with many expecting him to join Arsenal instead.
Chelsea had been tracking Rogers for more than two years and had quietly made him their top attacking target. They moved quickly after England’s semi-final defeat by Argentina last Wednesday, out of his desire to focus on the World Cup.
The deal was underpinned by the strong relationship between Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris.
Rogers will now join a squad that includes his friends and former Manchester City teammates Cole Palmer and Reece James. Palmer, who first performed a famous ‘cold’ goal celebration in December 2023, has since taken ownership of the celebration and registered a trademark for it with the UK Intellectual Property Office.
Photo: bbc.co.uk
The celebration was originally meant as a tribute to Rogers, who performed it after a goal for Middlesbrough against West Brom.
Rogers will be competing with Palmer for a place in the team, but their versatility means they can play either together or in each other’s position.
Chelsea are likely to use a back four at times next season, but they are also exploring a back-three system, which Xabi Alonso used to devastating effect when winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.
Rogers’ arrival represents a recalibration of Chelsea’s transfer tactics, with the club looking to add more ready-made players at this part of the project, to take it to the next level, to be consistent over time.
Chelsea are now likely to consider alternative targets, including Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi.
Rogers will make his debut for Chelsea in the coming weeks, but for now, he is focused on helping England prepare for the World Cup.
Source: BBC Sports
