Arsenal left empty-handed as Chelsea win race for Morgan Rogers with record-breaking bid

Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Morgan Rogers.

According to sources close to the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, an offer of around €137 million has been accepted by Aston Villa, although the final agreement for the transfer of the attacking midfielder is still being finalised.

Rogers has reached a personal agreement with Chelsea on a six-year contract, which will keep him at “Stamford Bridge” until 2032, with an option to extend for another season. Medical tests are scheduled to take place on Monday.

The 23-year-old footballer wants to move to Chelsea, where the club’s project and the presence of new coach Xabi Alonso have been decisive factors in his choice.

Arsenal had also shown interest in the England international, but Rogers has chosen Chelsea as his preferred destination.

The transfer is expected to become the most expensive signing in Chelsea’s history, surpassing the current record of €121 million, paid to Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in the January 2023 transfer window.

The Athletic reported in June that Rogers was expected to leave Aston Villa this summer, with Chelsea and Arsenal among the interested clubs.

Rogers’ current contract with Aston Villa expires in 2030, after he renewed his deal in November 2024. The renewal added a year to his previous contract and brought his salary closer in line with the importance he had gained in Unai Emery’s team.

Rogers joined Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 for an initial fee of €8.2 million, plus around €9.4 million in bonuses. Middlesbrough has also retained a 20 per cent sell-on clause for the player.

Having come through the academies of West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City, Rogers has become one of the Premier League’s most in-form attacking midfielders over the past two seasons, scoring 31 goals and providing 29 assists in 125 appearances for Aston Villa.