Chelsea have agreed a club-record £117m deal to sign England international Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, eclipsing the previous British transfer record set earlier this summer. The 23-year-old midfielder, who scored 21 goals in 85 league appearances for Unai Emery’s side and helped them win the Europa League last season, will undergo a medical on Monday after returning from international duty at the 2026 World Cup, where he made seven appearances for England.
The deal surpasses the £116m Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson and makes Rogers the most expensive signing in Chelsea’s history, exceeding the £107m spent on Enzo Fernandez in 2023. He will sign a six-year contract with an option for a further year at Stamford Bridge.
“Chelsea agree club-record £117m deal for England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.”
Aston Villa had signed Rogers from Middlesbrough in February 2024 for £8m, rising to £15m, with a clause giving Middlesbrough 20% of any future profit. That clause means Boro will receive at least £20.4m from the transfer, described by the Championship club as an English record sell-on fee.
The move comes as new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso shapes his squad after a disappointing 10th-placed Premier League finish last season. Rogers had been a Chelsea target for more than two years, but the timing is a surprise given the club missed out on European football. The deal underlines Chelsea’s ability to attract top talent despite that setback, though questions remain about how Rogers will fit into a side featuring star attacker Cole Palmer – the two competed for a World Cup spot, with Rogers taking Palmer’s place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
Rogers is the second Villa midfielder to depart this week after Youri Tielemans’ £35m move to Manchester United. Villa have responded by breaking their own transfer record to sign Switzerland international Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for more than £50m, and they are also set to seal a £38m move for Wolves’ Joao Gomes. Manzambi, 20, was coveted by more than half the Premier League and represents the start of a new era at Villa Park following their Europa League triumph.
Alonso, who has used both back four and back five systems at his former clubs, faces the pressing question of how to integrate Rogers alongside Palmer – or whether the England duo can play together. The answer will shape Chelsea’s approach to the new Premier League season.