Negotiations progressed rapidly last night as **Xabi Alonso**’s side hijacked the move for **Arsenal**’s number one target, with the versatile forward expected to put pen to paper on a six-year deal with the option of a further year.
The 23-year-old will undergo his medical at **Stamford Bridge** on Monday having started in **England**’s emphatic 6-4 victory over France in the FIFA World Cup Bronze Final.
He becomes the most expensive signing in **Chelsea** history, surpassing the £115 million fee paid for Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023 and signals a huge sign of intent from _the Blues_ following their below-par tenth-placed finish last term.
EFL loan stints shape Rogers
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**Rogers**’ journey to west London has been far from a straight-forward one, plying his trade with several Football League sides before announcing himself at **Aston Villa**.
The **Manchester City** youth prospect enjoyed a successful loan stint at **Lincoln City** where he joined midway through the 2020/21 campaign and played a vital role in helping _the Imps_ reach the Sky Bet League One play-off final.
Wembley would soon become a familiar sight for Rogers (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Spells at **Bournemouth** and **Blackpool** followed but the Halesowen-born forward saw his minutes limited, subsequently joining Championship side Middlesbrough in 2023 for an undisclosed fee.
Rogers was at the Riverside Stadium for just six months as his impressive displays, notching seven goals and eight assists in the league as well as helping them reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals, prompted the interest of Aston Villa.
Villa switch proves to be the catalyst
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Immediately asserting himself as a regular in Unai Emery’s ever-improving side, his first full season in the West Midlands fully justified his £15 million fee thanks to 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, which saw him secure the PFA Young Player of the Year.
Understandably, interest was rife in the ex-England youth international but with Villa challenging in the upper ecehlons of the **Premier League** table, Rogers signed a new contract to keep him at Villa Park until 2031.
He continued to go from strength to strength and was a vital part of their UEFA Europa League triumph last term, netting the third and final goal against Freiburg which also saw him named the competition’s Player of the Season.
Capping off a fantastic season with a goal in the Europa League final (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
That form carried over to the international stage where he cemented a starting role in Thomas Tuchel’s **England** squad ahead of the World Cup. Such performances led many to call for Rogers to start in the attacking midfield role ahead of childhood friend Jude Bellingham after another standout season in a Villa shirt.
Nonetheless, it was the Real Madrid man who got the nod and flourished with vital goals in their run to the semi-finals, although Rogers took his chance when he started on the right flank against Argentina with the assist for Anthony Gordon’s opener.
A marquee signing for the Blues
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Speculation of a potential switch to Arsenal surfaced soon after the Champions League final defeat and it was expected that the champions would step-up their interest in him after England’s World Cup exit.
However, Chelsea have stepped in and Rogers will add to an already stacked forward line which will be at Alonso’s disposal. This isn’t the first time the Gunners have missed out on a top target to their west London rivals, most notably losing out on Mykhailo Mudryk in 2023.
All parties involved seem to be benefiting here: Aston Villa get a substantial fee as they battle with PSR problems, Chelsea get their hands on a proven Premier League forward and Middlesborough, Rogers’ former club, also will earn at least £20.4m thanks to their 20% sell-on clause.