Aston Villa have pulled off a stunning transfer deal by signing Morgan Rogers, one of the most exciting young talents in English football, from Middlesbrough on the final day of the window.
The 21-year-old winger, who has represented England at various youth levels, joins the Villans for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £15 million. He has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract and will wear the number 27 shirt.
Rogers, who started his career at West Bromwich Albion, moved to Manchester City in 2019, but never made a senior appearance for the Premier League champions. Also spent time on loan at Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Blackpool, before joining Middlesbrough last summer.
He impressed at the Riverside Stadium, scoring two goals and providing four assists in 26 Championship games. He also attracted interest from several top-flight clubs, including Everton, Leicester City and West Ham United.
However, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith managed to persuade Rogers to join his ambitious project at Villa Park, where he will compete with the likes of Jack Grealish, Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia for a place in the starting line-up.
Smith said: “We are delighted to welcome Morgan to Aston Villa. His a fantastic young player with huge potential and a bright future ahead of him. He has pace, skill, creativity and an eye for goal, and he will add another dimension to our attack.
“He has shown his quality in the Championship and we believe he is ready to make the step up to the Premier League. His a great character and a hard worker, and he will fit in well with our squad. We are looking forward to working with him and helping him develop further.”
Rogers said: “I am over the moon to join Aston Villa. It is a massive club with a great history and a passionate fan base. I have always admired the way they play and the manager’s style of football.
“I want to thank Middlesbrough for giving me the opportunity to play regular first-team football and for their support throughout my time there. Also want to thank Manchester City for their guidance and for allowing me to fulfil my dream of playing in the Premier League.
“I am excited to join this talented group of players and to learn from them and the coaching staff. I am here to work hard, to improve and to contribute to the team’s success. Am ready for the challenge and I can’t wait to get out there and play in front of the Villa fans.”
