Chelsea Transfers

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Morgan Rogers’ future at Aston Villa: Will the England forward be on the move?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7204692/2026/06/03/morgan-rogers-aston-villa-future-transfers/

Morgan Rogers will be one of the most coveted players in Europe this summer.

Included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and a potential starter in the No 10 spot — among the most competitive positions in world football — Rogers has admirers among several of the biggest clubs in this country and beyond.

Having won the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year award for 2024-25, Rogers’ development has continued to go from strength to strength at Aston Villa under manager Unai Emery. He is Villa’s most lucrative asset and, from a tactical perspective, Emery is heavily reliant on him as the side’s creator-in-chief.

While there is an expectation from multiple sources to whom The Athletic has spoken, all on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, that the forward will leave, senior club sources are intent on keeping the 23-year-old at Villa Park. With five years left on his contract, they are in a strong position to do so.

Regardless, they will face significant interest. Villa may have no desire to sell, but their valuation would be influenced by the sell-on clause Middlesbrough inserted into the deal when they sold Rogers in January 2024. The initial fee was worth £7million plus a further £8million in add-ons. Crucially, the Championship club has a 20 per cent sell-on clause.

Here, The Athletic details what we are hearing about Rogers’ future — an issue which is likely to dominate the summer.

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Essentially, every top Premier League team admires Rogers. Arsenal, for instance, are among those to have reached out to Rogers’ representatives and asked to be kept informed of his situation. Player trading is on the agenda for the Premier League champions this summer, so whether they formalise their interest may depend on likely departures and squad balance.

Liverpool, similarly, appreciate Rogers but are prioritising different positions other than an attacking midfielder as they seek to rebuild under new management.

Both Manchester clubs are keeping a close eye, too. A move to Manchester City would signal a return given Rogers played in their academy age groups between 2019 and 2023, while Manchester United, particularly now that Michael Carrick has taken up the reins on a long-term basis, are firm advocates. Rogers played under Carrick at Middlesbrough.

Both the Manchester United manager and director of football Jason Wilcox, who worked with Rogers in City’s academy, have a good relationship with the player. Yet the question is whether United would have enough resources to spend the money needed to bring in Rogers, given a significant chunk of their budget will be focused on addressing the more pressing position of central midfield.

Morgan Rogers worked with Michael Carrick at MiddlesbroughStu Forster/Getty Images

Chelsea have long-standing interest in Rogers and sources close to Villa expect them to push again this summer. Rogers suits what Chelsea are looking for in the market for a variety of reasons.

First, they view him as a versatile attacker who can also play on the left, and is accustomed to playing under the pressure of intense scrutiny and a cluttered fixture schedule. That should not be a problem next season for Xabi Alonso’s side given their failure to qualify for UEFA competition, but could be again in future. He is ready-made to be influential, and, even at 23, emotionally mature enough to become a leader in Chelsea’s group.

While they are aware they face stiff competition, his arrival would be as part of an exciting, youthful front line alongside Estevao, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer with whom, along with Levi Colwill and Reece James, Rogers is good friends. 

Missing out on Champions League qualification is unlikely to be a major stumbling block given that, in theory at least, Chelsea should be in a better position to challenge for silverware next season and more readily able to compete in Europe’s blue-chip competition longer term than Villa.

Like Wilcox, Chelsea’s recruitment co-director Joe Shields knows Rogers well from their time in City’s academy together.

Morgan Rogers attempts to hold off Chelsea’s Reece James – a team-mate at international levelLuke Walker/Getty Images

Across the continent, Bayern Munich have been discussed as a possible destination for several months.

Head coach Vincent Kompany admires the player but nothing concrete has yet developed, while Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain have contacted Rogers’ representatives after putting him on the list of attacking midfielders whose progress they are tracking.

Villa would love to keep Rogers for another season, particularly having qualified for the Champions League. Yet there is an acceptance that, to comply with financial regulations, Villa will have to look at player sales to help. This has been discussed with Emery heading into the summer.

Ideally, funds would be raised through other players being sold, but Rogers is Villa’s biggest asset.

Despite posting a post-tax profit in the end-of-year accounts, the key explanation behind this was the sale of the women’s team (adding £75million) to Villa’s parent holding company, V Sports, along with The Warehouse — a large multi-use venue next to Villa Park — for £55m. Consequently, in UEFA’s own financial audit, which ignored the sales of the women’s team and The Warehouse, Villa ended up registering an £82m pre-tax loss.

All of which means Rogers’ sale could lead to intense competition for his signature, with clubs from the Premier League and Europe expressing interest.

In the previous two years, sporting directors have made informal approaches to outline the conditions of a potential deal. Nothing ever materialised, with Villa always maintaining the stance that the attacking midfielder was not for sale.

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Rogers is not agitating for a move, although there is a feeling from several sources familiar with the situation that this summer is the right time for him to depart Villa and, most keenly, the premium time to extract maximum value.

The level of fee received for Rogers would be the most straightforward way for Villa to alleviate some of the financial pressures and afford them scope to freshen up Emery’s squad. Rogers is considered by those close to Emery as Villa’s best player and received strong interest last summer, even if he was the one player the club were insistent on keeping.

Emery spoke with him at the time, asking to stay another year. Rogers happily accepted.

Back then, Villa were adamant they could not afford to lose Rogers, in spite of the challenging financial restrictions placed on them via UEFA’s Squad Cost Rules (SCR) and the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The reason, according to senior figures, was because of Rogers’ obvious quality and that he could play three to four positions. This was going to be important in a team expected to be thin on attacking quality — they are still to replace Jacob Ramsey, who left for Newcastle United last summer. Instead, Villa spoke to Rogers’ representatives, explaining the plan and outlining their intentions to increase his pay.

Last November, Rogers signed a new contract at Villa that stretches through to 2031. An indication of his acute and astonishing progress, it was his third deal in under two years.

Morgan Rogers helped propel Aston Villa to a fourth-place finish and Europa League successDan Mullan/Getty Images

In reality, the latest extension only added 12 more months to the previous agreement, with its greater purpose to bring him in line with the highest earners in the squad, both as a reward for his form and a reflection of his raised status within the group. 

Potential suitors will not be dissuaded from coming in for him this summer, however. This is the stance shared by all interested clubs, regardless of Rogers’ new salary hike and whether Villa qualified for the Champions League. In the case of many, their interest has simply remained from last year.

Sources close to the dressing room say Rogers continues to behave impeccably. He shares an extremely close relationship with Emery and the Spaniard’s aides, with the dynamic likened to that of a father and son. Those close to the squad have long said Pau Torres is a favourite son of Emery’s, but Rogers now falls within that bracket.

There have been no in-depth conversations or leanings as to Rogers’ preferred destination. He is also not at the stage where the player’s representatives are negotiating personal terms with other clubs. But he will assess his options in the near future. Rogers’ openness to departing is not due to unhappiness in the Midlands, but an understanding that this is the summer to move. 

Representatives of other Villa players believe the club will look towards the £100million sale of Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021 as a starting figure for Rogers before possible negotiating.

Some staff at Villa are expecting Rogers’ departure. Naturally, Villa’s recruitment department works in a way where they plan ahead, so they will have several alternative targets in mind to replace him should he go.

If Rogers is to depart, it will be one of the window’s leading transfer stories, but, either way, the issue is likely to dominate the summer. 

Jacob Tanswell

Mario Cortegana|Football Writer, Real Madrid

Simon Johnson|Chelsea Correspondent

David Ornstein|Football Writer

[Pizy 19,374]

54 minutes ago, Mário César said:

I think Madril will get him but they will offer us a player, like gonzalo garcia. 

I doubt that Camavinga or Tchouameni without UCL think about switch Real for Chelsea.

We REALLY don’t need another young and developing forward of any kind. 

If the club is serious about turning this club around like they claim they need to insist to Real Madrid that any deal for Enzo MUST include one of Camavinga, Tchouameni, or Nico Paz. We 100% need a midfielder of similar quality/potential. I’m betting that if Xabi asks the club for a big player like that and he speaks with the players it can be done.

[mkh 794]

🔵I’d rather have Nico Paz and Jacobo Ramon.

Arda Güler is unfortunately out of reach, or Dean Huijsen.

They could also offer us Mario Gila; Real can buy him back at a bargain price, just like Ramon and Paz.

Chelsea should pass on Aurélien Tchouaméni, Camavinga, or Gonzalo Garcia we already have enough young, hungry strikers on the squad!!

E. Emegha also seems to be a real problem!!

Dastan Satpaev

N. Jackson – hmm, I don’t like his attitude!!

J. Pedro

Shumaira Mheuka (on loan)

Chizaram Ezenwata (on loan)

L. Delap (sell)

M. Guiu (sell)

D. Fofana (sell)

[OneMoSalah 9,122]

Nico Paz is a risk. Huge risk.

Big talent no doubt but I think people are forgetting the difference of playing in Italy to playing in the PL. I mean look at Wirtz coming from Germany to the PL. A more physically demanding league than Italy. Really struggled. I think it could be much and such the same.

If he goes back to Madrid I get it may mean he is not as easy to go for then if we do want him, but in all honesty, will he actually play?

Also do we really need anymore young attacking players? Swear people continually say we need to buy proven quality in all positions but names like Nico Paz, Garcia, Ramon etc mentioned at every opportunity 😂 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by OneMoSalah

[Pizy 19,374]

9 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Nico Paz is a risk. Huge risk.

Big talent no doubt but I think people are forgetting the difference of playing in Italy to playing in the PL. I mean look at Wirtz coming from Germany to the PL. Really struggled. 

If he goes back to Madrid I get it may mean he is not as easy to go for then but in all honesty, will he actually play?

Also do we really need anymore young attacking players? Swear people continually say we need to buy proven quality but names like Nico Paz, Garcia, Ramon etc mentioned at every opportunity 😂 

 

Only reason I bring him up is because I don’t see any pathway whatsoever for him back at Real Madrid. Even more so if they come and get Enzo. Yes, we need proven, ready made quality but he’s apparently such a huge talent that if you can get him you should at least try.

Ideally, Camavinga is definitely the RM midfielder I would be most keen on if any of them could be convinced. He’s not the pure DM I think we need but his attributes would suit our team well I feel.

[OneMoSalah 9,122]

34 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Only reason I bring him up is because I don’t see any pathway whatsoever for him back at Real Madrid. Even more so if they come and get Enzo. Yes, we need proven, ready made quality but he’s apparently such a huge talent that if you can get him you should at least try.

Ideally, Camavinga is definitely the RM midfielder I would be most keen on if any of them could be convinced. He’s not the pure DM I think we need but his attributes would suit our team well I feel.

Was talk of him remaining with Como due to them getting European football next season. Suppose once Mourinho goes in and see’s what he’s got, we will see but I agree, don’t think he will get much of a look in if he goes back. I don’t think the buy back jumps up significantly from this summer to next either though so maybe not a sure thing that Madrid trigger it.

This “apparently a huge talent” thing has shot us in the foot so many times. Just as recently as last summer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap…. all apparently huge talents. All duds. All avaliable for transfer….

And do we really need to sign every single one of these “18-23 huge talents” to directly compete with another 18-23 year old in the same position? Just be repeating the same mistake again and again. Stockpiling for sake of it. We should be prioritising building round Palmer because for 2 of the last 3 seasons he has carried this team. I think a summer of rest will do him the world of good and as long as he stays, he will be a key part. 

For example stockpiling, buying Mudryk, few years later signing Gittens. Then Garnacho. Both in the same window. All similar ages, similar profiles, similar phases in their development. All need regular first team football. Paz & Palmer not be the same? Similarly with Lavia, Essugo & Ugochuwku in midfield? Guys like Palhlina was avaliable when we signed Ugochuwku & Lavia - would’ve been a smarter move, given the contrast in his age/experience/leadership compared to those guys. Be the same with a winger and another number 10 if I am honest. We need that mix.

Would take Camavinga. Or Tchouameni. But then again would they see a move here as a good option? Doubtful. Even then, would Jose really want to lose them? Given how his teams play? I think they’ll be key parts of his squad in all honesty. 

I get there is optimism around the Alonso appointment, how we could maybe attract certain calibres of players but theres still been too much chaos under this ownership group. Not to mention the wages on offer. No European football. Maybe need to convince that first big player to make the move to convince others to.

Edited 24 minutes ago by OneMoSalah

[Strike 7,852]

3 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Romano loves Madrid, he's knocking out tweets tonight like wanks on a Sunday morning, he adores Madrid.

Their president can't keep his fucking big gob shut, what a shambles of a club

 

Mourinho, Konate and Dumfries so far is so Galatasaray coded