Aston Villa have delivered a crushing blow to the Premier League's elite clubs, confirming that rising star Morgan Rogers has committed his future to the club with a new long-term contract.
Contract Confirmation Ends Transfer Speculation
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder, who joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024, has signed a deal that will keep him at Villa Park until 2031. This announcement effectively ends any immediate hopes Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal had of securing his signature in the upcoming January transfer window.
Rogers enjoyed a spectacular breakthrough campaign last season, registering an impressive 14 goals and 16 assists that caught the attention of heavyweight suitors across Europe. According to reports, Tottenham had offered "crazy money" for the England international during the summer, while Chelsea reportedly pitched a £100 million swap deal involving Nicolas Jackson.
European Giants Also Miss Out
The transfer disappointment extends beyond North London rivals, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich all having monitored Rogers' situation. His stellar performances during the 2024/25 season saw him voted PFA Young Player of the Season by his peers and earned him an England debut in November 2024.
Despite registering just one Premier League goal so far this season - which came against suitors Tottenham in a 2-1 win in mid-October - Villa manager Unai Emery has shown strong faith in the young attacker.
Emery's Backing Through Form Challenges
Speaking about Rogers' development in September following a Europa League match against Bologna, Emery demonstrated his commitment to the player's growth. "Morgan is young and he needs to accept it," Emery stated. "Today, I kept him on the field for 90 minutes because I wanted his reaction to it, how he was accepting everything and he did it."
The Spanish manager acknowledged that while Rogers "was not being clinical offensively" during that particular match, he emphasized the importance of the player learning from such experiences. "He needs to take experience of not playing well, the crowd sometimes not being happy with him. He has to accept these experiences and grow up through it," Emery added.
This new contract represents a significant statement of intent from Aston Villa, who have secured one of English football's most promising talents despite intense interest from rival clubs. For Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal - all potentially in the market for forward reinforcements in January due to injury concerns - the search will now have to continue elsewhere.
