Morgan Rogers sparks strong reactions with his words just minutes after signing with Chelsea
Morgan Rogers has grabbed attention with a comment he made after his big £117 million move from Aston Villa to Chelsea was confirmed.
At 23, Rogers is joining Chelsea in a British record deal after they had their offer accepted by Villa on Saturday. He’s signed a six-year contract, with the chance to add another year.
The England midfielder won’t be meeting his new teammates just yet since he’s still on his summer break after the World Cup. But he did give his first interview to Chelsea’s official website, sharing how excited he is to play alongside his England and former Manchester City academy friend Cole Palmer.
He also talked about chatting with new manager Xabi Alonso, saying, “It was important for me to get to know the manager, how he works, and what he expects. It matches perfectly with how I see the game and how I want to play—being free and expressing myself. Having him here was a big part of why I chose Chelsea.”
However, it was Rogers’ very first comment on the club’s website that stirred up some debate. He called Chelsea “the biggest club in London,” putting them ahead of Arsenal.
Arsenal had been linked with Rogers over the summer but decided not to make a higher bid. According to Fabrizio Romano, they wouldn’t go beyond £100 million and stepped back when Chelsea’s £117 million offer came in.
He said, “Chelsea is the biggest club in London and one I’ve always looked up to since I was a kid. I’m really excited about the new manager, the players, and where the club is heading. That’s why I’m here—I can’t wait to get started.”
Some fans of Arsenal and Tottenham weren’t too happy with that, as they both see their clubs as the biggest in London.
Laura Kirk-Francis, an Arsenal fan and talkSPORT host, shared her view: “Chelsea’s recent success can’t be ignored, right? But Arsenal hasn’t won the Champions League, and this is their first Premier League in over 20 years. No club has the culture and history like Arsenal—sorry, Chelsea just can’t match that.
“I also think it’s still risky to join Chelsea because of how they’re owned right now. People joke about Arsenal’s tough years, but Arsenal have never been in the same mess Chelsea has been. The lowest Arsenal finished since Wenger left was eighth, while Chelsea dropped to 12th.
“So, you can say whoever’s the biggest club, but Arsenal’s situation and their relationship with the owners feel much healthier and better for the long run.”
In his goodbye message to Villa, Rogers called them “the biggest club in Birmingham.”
“I’m just a Birmingham kid who got to represent the biggest team in the city. That’s something I’m really proud of, and it will always mean a lot to me,” he said. “Thank you for welcoming me from day one and letting me be myself.”
He described Villa’s Europa League win last season as one of his proudest moments and thanked both teammates and fans.
“You stood by me through good times and bad, and that means the world to me,” he wrote to Villa supporters. “Every time I stepped onto the pitch at Villa Park, I gave my all, and your support helped me through everything. We shared some special moments. This isn’t a goodbye—it’s a see you soon. I love you all.”