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Morgan Rogers has completed his £117million move from Aston Villa to Chelsea.
The forward, 23, has joined Xabi Alonso’s side in a record fee for a British player, eclipsing the £116m spent by Manchester City to lure Elliot Anderson away from Nottingham Forest earlier this summer.
Rogers had been Arsenal’s top transfer priority in this transfer window, but the Blues moved quickly to secure his services.
Chelsea began to tease the announcement of their new signing at 9.30pm on Tuesday evening, with a video showing an old-skool radio with the broadcast: “Welcome back to Cobham FM, London is finally starting to cool down.”
The video referenced Rogers’ ‘ice cold’ celebration, that he shares with compatriot and new team-mate Cole Palmer.
The England international arrives at Stamford Bridge after a stellar season last term, scoring 10 goals and adding six assists in the league, as well as three goals and five assists in Villa’s Europa League-winning campaign.
Now, he takes the next step in his career as he moves south to the capital, where he will work under new Chelsea boss Alonso, who lands his second major signing after Marco Pelastra, the Italian wing-back, joined from Atalanta.
In his first words since his signing, Rogers said: “I'm so excited.
“For me, Chelsea are the biggest club in London and a club I've always admired since I was a kid.
“I'm really excited about the project with the new manager, the players we've got and where the club is heading. That's why I'm here and I can't wait to get started.”
In his announcement video, Rogers continued: “I’m joining the biggest club in London.
“The way the club wants to go and how it wants to move forward, I want to be a part of. It was just perfect for me. I am a free-spirit, free-flowing footballer.
“I like to take risks, make things happen, change games, whatever that might take. I can’t wait to get going.”
The attacking midfielder will join up with the Chelsea squad after their pre-season tour of Australia, having just finished his World Cup campaign with England.
In North America, Rogers’ minutes came mostly off the bench, although he started the semi-finald defeat by Argentina on the right wing.
During the tournament, he played seven games and laid on one assist, but he did not score.
He came close against Norway, when Orjen Nyland spilled his effort from range, with Jude Bellingham following in to give the Three Lions the lead in extra time in the quarter-finals in Miami, Florida.
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