It soon became clear this summer that Aston Villa would not be able to keep Morgan Rogers. After helping the club secure fourth place in the Premier League and win the Europa League, the 23-year-old was highly sought after.
Arsenal appeared to be the most probable next move, as the reigning champions wanted to reinforce their left attacking flank. The recruitment effort involved multiple voices, with Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Arteta, and several of the club’s England internationals working to persuade Rogers. However, because Arsenal hesitated to match Villa’s valuation, Chelsea stepped in and completed a deal that made Rogers the priciest British player of all time, eclipsing the £116m Manchester City sent to Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson earlier in the window.
Given that Xabi Alonso has just taken charge at Chelsea, it remains unclear precisely where Rogers will fit. The adaptable attacker, who began his journey at West Brom before stints at Manchester City, Middlesbrough, and Villa, is expected to feature in several roles—frequently beginning on the left but with the freedom to shift into different offensive areas.
Alonso mainly deployed a 3-4-3 system at Bayer Leverkusen and a 4-2-3-1 during his time at Real Madrid. Should Chelsea adopt a back three, Rogers is likely to operate as the left-sided No 10. If a back four is used, he will start slightly wider but will have licence to drift inside—or could even take up the central attacking position.
If Alonso sticks to the approach he employed at Leverkusen, Rogers may not be an ideal match. Across his two full Bundesliga seasons, Leverkusen averaged 62.1% possession in 2023-24 and 59.6% in 2024-25. In their unbeaten title-winning 2023-24 campaign, they controlled possession and advanced the ball deliberately up the field.
The team was designed to construct attacks patiently with numerous passes, regain possession rapidly after losing it, and keep play compressed near the opposition’s goal. They forced 367 high turnovers, 54 more than any other team. Such a style suits attackers who are neat and skilful in congested areas. Rogers, though, is most dangerous when he can utilise his speed and burst into open space.
His dribble success rate stood at 34.2% last season, an unremarkable figure. Likewise, his pass completion under pressure was 73.4%, also not outstanding. Among 161 forwards and midfielders who tried at least 300 passes while under pressure, Rogers placed 143rd. The numbers indicate he does not thrive in tight, confined situations.
When given space to attack, Rogers is a danger. He recorded 223 progressive carries last season, the 10th most among Premier League forwards, wingers, and attacking midfielders. Only Cody Gakpo (41) and Matheus Cunha (35) converted more carries into shots than Rogers (30). He also created 16 chances for teammates after carrying the ball; only 11 players set up more. His combined total of 46 chances created and shots following carries trailed only Jérémy Doku (58), Gakpo (57), and Bukayo Saka (56). Alonso’s possession-based template might not unlock his full potential.
There is also potential for a strong connection with João Pedro. The Brazilian is expected to be the team’s attacking focal point, but he is not a typical No 9. He often drops deep, combines with teammates, and acts as a creator nearly as much as a scorer. With Pedro pulling back, space will open up for Rogers to burst into; he made 258 runs behind the defensive line last season, placing 12th in the league.
The successful partnership he shared with Ollie Watkins is an encouraging sign for Chelsea. Rogers set up 20 open-play opportunities for Watkins last season, the second-highest combination between two players in the division. Throughout his career, Rogers has built strong on-field bonds with teammates. He already enjoys a close relationship with Cole Palmer from their days in Manchester City’s academy.
Another standout quality is his shooting technique. Since his Premier League debut in February 2024, Rogers has netted 21 non-penalty goals from 14.7 non-penalty expected goals, an overperformance of +6.3 that ranks 10th in the competition.
His powerful shooting could be a decisive weapon for Chelsea, especially against opponents that sit deep. He has scored five league goals from outside the penalty area since his Villa debut, a total exceeded by only six players. Very few are as precise from long range. It was his effort from distance against Norway that resulted in Jude Bellingham’s winner in the World Cup quarter-final.
Chelsea have committed a massive fee to sign Rogers, and there are legitimate tactical questions about the transfer. Yet Rogers has a knack for delivering in any situation. He is not a right winger, but he still made a telling contribution for England against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, coming from the right to create Anthony Gordon’s opening goal.
Does he justify a £117m price tag? Maybe not. Can he thrive if used exactly as he was at Villa? That is uncertain. But it is difficult to picture him failing to make a meaningful impression at Stamford Bridge.
This content comes from Opta Analyst
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