Chelsea sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m in record-breaking deal

Chelsea have broken the record for the most expensive transfer for a British player, signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m.

The 23-year-old, fresh off finishing third place with England in the 2026 World Cup, has signed a seven-year deal with the Blues.

It breaks the record set just weeks ago, when Manchester City signed Elliot Anderson for £116m. That beat out a longer-standing record set by Real Madrid's signing of Jude Bellingham for £115m in 2023.

In terms of who's the most expensive Premier League signing on record, Rogers is only beaten out by Liverpool's signing of Alexander Isak for £125m last summer.

In a statement through the club's website, Rogers said: "I'm so excited. For me, Chelsea are the biggest club in London and a club I've always admired since I was a kid.

"I'm really excited about the project with the new manager, the players we've got and where the club is heading. That's why I'm here and I can't wait to get started."

Arsenal had previously identified Rogers as their top forward target this summer, according to Sky Sports, but the Premier League champions were unwilling to match the fee that Chelsea agreed.

The 23-year-old now leaves Champions League football with Villa to join Xabi Alonso's side, who failed to qualify for Europe for the upcoming season.

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Signed by Aston Villa for £8m from Middlesbrough in the winter of 2024, Rogers went on to score 31 times in 125 appearances.

He scored in the Europa League final this May, sealing the club's first European title since 1982 with a 3-0 win.

Rogers will also be reunited with fellow Manchester City academy graduate Cole Palmer, who's since gone on to be Chelsea's talisman in the midfield or on the right wing.

Palmer's "cold" celebration was originally inspired by Rogers, who did it while playing for Boro in the EFL Championship.

He has since, however, trademarked the pose.

(c) Sky News 2026: Chelsea sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m in record-breaking deal