Chelsea have reached an agreement with Aston Villa to sign England midfielder Morgan Rogers in a deal worth around £117 million.
According to The Athletic transfer journalist David Ornstein, Chelsea and Aston Villa have agreed on a deal for the 23-year-old, who is expected to complete a move to Stamford Bridge on a six-year contract after agreeing personal terms with the Blues.
Before Chelsea completed the deal, Arsenal were strongly interested in signing Rogers and had identified him as one of their priorities attacking targets this summer. Reports indicated that Mikel Arteta held talks with the midfielder, while Arsenal had also opened discussions with Aston Villa over a potential transfer.
The Gunners avoided distracting the player during England’s FIFA World Cup campaign and were waiting for the right time to complete the move. Moreso, Chelsea moved quickly to secure the deal, with the England international opting to join the Blues over the Premier League champions.
Rogers was part of England’s World Cup squad, which was eliminated by Argentina in the semi-finals, featuring in several key matches during the tournament.
The 23-year-old has built up valuable experience across English football, progressing from the lower divisions to the Premier League. Before his move to Chelsea, he represented Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool, Manchester City, Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
During his time at Villa, Rogers made 125 appearances, scoring 31 goals and providing 29 assists, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking midfielders.
