Chelsea has finalized the signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a club-record fee of £117m. As the latest addition, Rogers joins a growing contingent of former Manchester City academy players at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea currently boasts six such alumni in its first-team squad, with a combined investment of £302.5m spent on these acquisitions.
Cole Palmer, who joined in 2023 after limited opportunities at Manchester City, stands out as a major success. His debut season saw him score 25 goals across all competitions, earning him the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Season awards. While he has not consistently reached those same heights since, he has accumulated 54 goals in 131 appearances, including a brace in the 2025 Club World Cup final against PSG and a man-of-the-match performance in the Conference League final that same year.
Tosin Adarabioyo, brought in on a free transfer from Fulham in 2024, has proven to be a reliable dressing room veteran. At 28, the centre-back has made 70 appearances over two seasons and contributed to the club's success in the Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. In contrast, other signings have faced more significant challenges. Liam Delap, signed last summer for £30m from Ipswich, struggled in his debut campaign with only two goals in 41 appearances, despite a breakout season at Ipswich where he scored 12 league goals.
Similarly, 21-year-old winger Jamie Gittens has yet to make a substantial impact since his £55m move from Borussia Dortmund, having started only five Premier League games. Meanwhile, 22-year-old midfielder Romeo Lavia continues to be hampered by a succession of injuries that have prevented him from demonstrating his talent on a consistent basis. Morgan Rogers is now set to integrate into this group as Chelsea's primary summer statement signing.
