via Reuters
Aston Villa could do little about Morgan Rogers leaving the club in the summer transfer window. The forward was wanted by a number of clubs and Chelsea stumped up £117million to secure his signature.
The deal represented a £102million profit for the Villans, who had bought Rogers from Middlesbrough just two-and-a-half years ago.
Rogers was not the only first-teamer to depart Villa Park in the summer. It was a transfer window of upheaval for Unai Emery's side, with seven big-name players leaving and 11 new signings arriving at the club.
Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye may be the players signed that would look to be the most natural replacements for Rogers, particularly as they spent the exact money they sold Rogers for on the duo, if add-ons are included - Manzambi will cost up to £70million with add-ons, while Mbaye was signed for £47million - but they may have a player in the academy set-up that could eventually be the Villans' Rogers long-term replacement.
Oscar Johnson has been named in the Guardian's Next Generation 2026 list, which highlights a player from each Premier League club, born between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010 as the next big thing that could make it on the big stage.
Johnson has not long turned 16 years of age, but is already showing his quality in Villa's youth sides. He has two goals and one assists to his name for the U21s side so far this season, making the step up from the U18s team, for whom he notched three goals in 13 appearances in 2025/26. He has already made three appearances for England's U17s side, with a call-up to the U18s surely not too far away now.
Just over a year ago, Instragram account @coachmouk posted a photo of Johnson wearing his England youth kit with the caption: "I’m incredibly proud to highlight Oscar Johnson, a talented player I scouted years ago when he was just under eight years old for Arsenal. Although he couldn’t join Arsenal due to the distance, he has spent the past seven years with Aston Villa and has been absolutely excelling! Recently, he’s been called up to represent England at the U16 level and is performing phenomenally. It’s been amazing to see his journey come full circle!"
In their piece on the Next Generation of talent, the Guardian's Ben Fisher said: "Something of a throwback of a winger, the 16-year-old is already a regular for Villa’s Under-21s and recently represented England at Under-17 level.
"He is viewed as a high-potential player but perhaps his biggest attribute is his mentality; Johnson, who shone for Villa’s Under-18s aged 15 and represented England at Under-16s, has displayed great humility and determination as he has progressed through Villa’s youth programme, which he joined as an under-nine.
"Johnson may still be at the beginning of his scholarship but he has impressed those at the club and beyond, recently scoring twice against Middlesbrough Under-21s, the second a sublime solo goal."
It may yet be some time before Johnson is knocking on the door of Emery's first team, but if he continues his rise he will be a player to excite the Villa fans in the years to come.