Xabi Alonso Hails Morgan Rogers Signing As Major Chelsea Boost
Xabi Alonso Hails Morgan Rogers Signing As Major Chelsea Boost Curated By, Last Updated: July 27, 2026, 12:14 IST New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso praised
Xabi Alonso Hails Morgan Rogers Signing As Major Chelsea Boost Curated By, Last Updated: July 27, 2026, 12:14 IST New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso praised the signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million, calling him a major boost for the club. Rapid Read Morgan Rogers joins Chelsea FC New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has hailed the signing of Morgan Rogers as a major boost for the club, saying the England midfielder will add quality and improve the team’s overall competitiveness. Rogers joined Chelsea FC from Aston Villa last week for £117 million ($157 million), setting a new record for a British player. Alonso expressed his excitement ahead of his first game in charge, a pre-season friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday. “It’s a great signing. I think that in that position, we needed an important player, and I’m sure that there were not many more better options than Morgan," Alonso said.
“So, we are delighted. It means a lot for everyone." The move signals strong intent from Chelsea after a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Premier League last season, which saw them miss out on European competition. Alonso now faces the challenge of integrating Rogers into an already stacked attacking lineup that includes Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian and Geovany Quenda. “I have a plan. I have an idea. I can see them linking really well," Alonso said about how Rogers could combine with Palmer. “You need to have a good mix, good stability players, and players that can play with more freedom." “And if we get that balance right, and we get those special players in the right positions, with good control, I think that we will be more competitive with the ball and against the ball." Alonso also highlighted Rogers’ versatility as a key asset.
“I think that one of his best qualities is that he’s flexible," he said. “I think that he can play in that pocket position, close to the striker, close to the turn, but he’s played as well on the right. But I think more coming from the left." “We (will) play him where he feels he is enjoying his game, where he feels his flow. I’m sure that he will have good connections with the other players that he can have around him. So if we get those connections right, those little associations between them that they look for each other and they connect well, I think that it will be a great step forward in the quality of our game." Rogers is not part of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia after helping England finish third at the World Cup. The Blues will face Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday before travelling to Hong Kong to take on Juventus FC on August 5.
The BriefWire