RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sources“There were not many better options than Morgan Rogers”: Alonso celebrates Chelsea’s record £117m coup
Xabi Alonso has backed Morgan Rogers to be a great signing for Chelsea after the midfielder completed his record move to the club.
Chelsea have signed Rogers from Aston Villa for a club record fee of £117m, with the 24-year-old becoming the second-most expensive signing in Premier League history.
Rogers arrives having helped England to a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, a campaign which followed an impressive season at Villa Park.
The midfielder scored 14 goals in all competitions and was named Europa League Player of the Season as Aston Villa ended a 30-year wait for a major trophy with European success.
Alonso is looking forward to working with Rogers once he returns from an extended post-season break. The Spaniard said Rogers was the best available option on the market as Chelsea sought to sign another creative midfielder this summer.
"For sure, it’s a great signing," Alonso said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's pre-season fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers.
"In that position, we needed an important player and there were not many better options than Morgan Rogers. His signing means a lot for everyone and for the players that are already here.
"One of his best qualities is that he is flexible. He plays in that pocket position, close to the striker, close to our number ten – but he has also played on the right side even though he is more used to coming from the left.
"He feels he is enjoying his game, his flow, and I’m sure he will have good connections with the other players around him. If we get those connections right, that will be a great step forward in the quality of our game.
"When we started talking, we wanted to build a competitive squad, and you need players who can have that almost-instant impact. I’m sure Morgan won’t need much time to adapt to the club, to the system, to his team-mates. The idea was that we wanted to get a top player: Morgan is one of them."
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