Morgan Rogers has completed a £117m move to Chelsea from Aston Villa, right under the noses of Premier League champions Arsenal.
The 23-year-old flew back from the World Cup on Monday, having just been finished a tournament that resulted in a third-placed finish for the Three Lions.
He immediately underwent his medical in West London and signed a six-year deal to serve under Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge next season.
Speaking for the first time as a Chelsea player, he said: “I’m joining the biggest club in London,” he said in his announcement video.
“The way the club wants to go and how it wants to move forward is something I want to be a part of. I think it was just perfect for me. I just can’t wait to get going.”
It looked certain that Rogers was going to be an Arsenal player by the time the new season kicked off, so what happened?
Chelsea project convinces Villa star
According to multiple reports, Chelsea had been tracking the England international for over two years, and had made him their top target this summer, although not publicly.
They moved quickly after Rogers’ exit from the World Cup, thanks to a combined effort from head coach Alonso and co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
Reece James was also reportedly on the case during England’s camp in the United States, and it did not hurt that Rogers is very close to Chelsea star Cole Palmer.
Overall, it was a pristine and well-planned operation, which was spearheaded by a strong relationship between Eghbali and Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris.
The deal was finalised on Saturday afternoon, mere hours before Rogers turned out during the third-placed play-off against France.
It was a series of events that lasted just short of 48 hours, and although Arsenal were given the chance to match Chelsea’s £117m offer, they informed Villa that they did not value their star midfielder at that price – a record fee for an English player.
The Gunners will undoubtedly move on to other targets, but the transfer will feel like a coup for the Blues, despite the fee they paid.
How can Chelsea afford Rogers?
As part of the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules coming into effect this season, many have wondered how Chelsea can afford to pay £117m for a player.
The Blues have already forked out high fees for the likes of Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria this summer, with talks ongoing over a move for Maxence Lacroix.
Last summer, the Premier League clubs made £300m in player sales, a record for the division, and that only just kept them within the lines of the previous financial restrictions.
UEFA also fined the club £26.7m for breaching its rules last summer, and have again been found to have breached them this year.
And with at least five new faces expected at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, Chelsea need to sell at least a dozen players before the transfer window closes.
They have already dispatched of Marc Cucurella and Andrey Santos, alongside Tyrique George and Jimmy-Jay Morgan for combined fees worth over £120m.
Selling players will be essential for the club, if they are to continue their heavy spending habits.