Chelsea have agreed to sign England international Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa in a club-record deal worth £117 million.
The 23-year-old midfielder will sign a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with an option for another year, after completing his medical on Monday following his return from England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
This transfer sets a new record for an English player, beating the £116 million Manchester City agreed to pay Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson earlier this summer.
Rogers is now Chelsea’s most expensive signing, surpassing the £107 million the club paid for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández in 2023.
This move is one of the first big decisions by new head coach Xabi Alonso as he works to reshape Chelsea’s squad for the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Rogers joined Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 in a deal that started at £8 million and could reach £15 million. He had previously come through Manchester City’s academy.
Middlesbrough will also benefit from Villa’s profit, thanks to a 20 percent sell-on clause included when Rogers left. The Championship club is expected to get at least £20.4 million, which could set a new English record for the largest sell-on fee from a single transfer.
While at Villa Park, Rogers scored 21 league goals in 85 games and helped Unai Emery’s team win the UEFA Europa League last season.
Rogers has played 22 times for England’s senior team, scoring once, and appeared in seven matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Rogers is the second Aston Villa midfielder to leave this week, after Youri Tielemans’ £35 million move to Manchester United. Villa have already signed Switzerland international Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for over £50 million and are reportedly close to signing Wolves midfielder João Gomes for £38 million.
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