In the space of one month, the British transfer record has been smashed twice – both times by English midfielders barely into their prime. Morgan Rogers became the most expensive British player of all time when Chelsea signed him from Aston Villa for £117m, breaking the record set just weeks earlier by Elliot Anderson's £116m move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City.
The two 23-year-olds offer more than potential. Anderson, who started seven of England's eight matches en route to a World Cup third place finish, was a statistical outlier last season: he touched the ball 3,300 times in the Premier League, more than any other player, won 297 duels and made 376 line-breaking passes – top among central midfielders. His four goals and four assists, alongside 54 chances created, underlined a complete game.
“Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers have broken the British transfer record within a month, highlighting the rising value of English midfielders.”
Rogers, by contrast, is a more attacking threat. The versatile midfielder, who can play as a number 10 or on the left, contributed 14 goals and 12 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions for Villa. Across Europe's top five leagues he ranked second among midfielders for touches in the opposition box (181), while his 16 Premier League goal involvements placed him in the top 10 in his position.
Their value reflects a broader shift. With traditional number nines fading, clubs are increasingly demanding goals from midfield – and English players, already homegrown and Premier League-ready, command a premium. Adam Wharton and Alex Scott are also attracting attention, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all interested in Scott, who has turned down a new contract at Bournemouth.
The record deals have sparked a busy summer elsewhere. Arsenal, not needing a No 9 for once, signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for £24m after Leandro Trossard's departure to Besiktas for £15.3m. Villa reinvested part of the Rogers windfall, bringing in Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for £51m and João Gomes from Wolves for £34m, while selling Youri Tielemans to Manchester United for £35m and Donyell Malen to Roma for £21.6m.
With both Anderson and Rogers still years from their peak, their price tags may soon look like bargains. The question now is whether the next wave – Wharton, Scott, and others – can force clubs to break the bank again.