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Posted on July 29, 2026 4:00 pm | Updated on July 29, 2026 2:32 pm Xabi Alonso backs Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer partnership at Chelsea.
Full name: Chelsea Football Club Nickname: The Blues Founded: 10 March 1905 Ground: Stamford Bridge Owner: BlueCo Chairman: Todd Boehly Manager: Xabi Alonso League: Premier League Season 2025-26: 10th position Website: chelseafc.com Chelsea Football Club is one of the most… Read More about CHELSEA
Chelsea have made a club record move for Morgan Rogers. Manager Xabi Alonso says he can fit in well with Cole Palmer. This Chelsea news comes just days into the club’s pre-season tour of Sydney.
Xabi Alonso backs Rogers and Palmer to thrive together
Rogers joined Chelsea from Aston Villa last week in a deal worth around £117m. That fee makes him the priciest British player ever. As reported by BBC, Alonso already has a clear plan for the young star alongside Palmer. The Spanish coach thinks both men can settle in fast once training starts again. Rogers is still on holiday after playing for England at the World Cup and is set to join full training soon after he returns. Alonso said Chelsea wanted a proven attacking player this summer and Rogers fit that need better than most names on the market.
Alonso also praised the close friendship between Rogers and Palmer. The pair often call each other good friends in football. He thinks that bond could turn into strong chemistry once they train together. Putting two skilled attackers close to each other, he said, can make Chelsea sharper both with and without the ball. Rogers has signed a six year deal, with an option for one more year. That deal ties him to Stamford Bridge for years to come.
Morgan Rogers’ stats this season, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
Premier League 37 10 6
FA Cup 2 1 0
EFL Cup 1 0 0
Europa League 15 3 5
FIFA World Cup 6 0 1
Chelsea strengthen defence with Lacroix deal
As reported by ESPN, Chelsea are close to signing French defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, in a move worth £52m. At 26, Lacroix would become the club’s oldest signing since 2022. The move breaks a transfer rule Alonso had kept for three years. Alonso said his main goal this summer was to build a squad with the right mix of skill and mindset. That mix matters most for the new Premier League season. He added that the whole group needs to grow up together if Chelsea want to compete at the top.
The Lacroix move comes after a busy window that has already changed large parts of the squad. This summer has brought winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting, striker Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg, and full back Marco Palestra from Atalanta. Talk continues to build that Valentin Barco could join from Strasbourg before the window closes. That would give Chelsea four attacking signings and one defender this summer alone.
Big squad overhaul continues under Alonso
Chelsea’s squad has now grown to nearly forty players after so many new signings. This leaves a clear need for exits before the window shuts. Alonso admitted that further changes are likely as the club works to trim the numbers down. He said there will probably still be some movement, since plans can shift fast based on interest from other clubs.
He added that having a clear plan helps the staff stay calm when sudden transfer talks come up. Garnacho has already completed a season-long loan exit to Aston Villa, with a few more fringe players expected to follow. Alonso instead pointed to the good mood inside the squad as pre-season training continues in Sydney. Chelsea have brought in five new faces this summer. How the club handles the rest of this window could matter as much as the money already spent.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is the Sports Editor at Six Sports, where she leads editorial coverage across cricket, football, and other major sporting events. She oversees newsroom operations, editorial planning, story development, and publishing standards while ensuring every article meets Six Sports' commitment to accuracy, transparency, and responsible journalism. She works closely with writers, editors, and contributors to deliver timely news, match reports, analysis, features, and explainers covering domestic and international competitions. Her editorial approach focuses on factual reporting, clear analysis, and reader-first journalism, helping audiences stay informed about the latest developments across the sporting world. As Sports Editor, Deepanjali plays a key role in maintaining the publication's editorial quality, consistency, and independence while guiding coverage of major leagues, tournaments, teams, and athletes.
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