Morgan Rogers has already told Xabi Alonso his best position as £117m Chelsea transfer explained
Xabi Alonso looks set to give Morgan Rogers a special role in the Chelsea starting lineup, having mastered the craft of both a winger and an attacking midfielder.
Morgan Rogers has joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £117m(Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Morgan Rogers has told Xabi Alonso where he will be most effective for Chelsea. Last season, the 23-year-old, whom the Blues recently signed from Aston Villa for £117million, established himself as one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League, alternating between the left wing and attacking midfield.
With the new Blues manager expected to field a back three comprising a double pivot, flying wing-backs, and two inside forwards behind the striker, Rogers could be deployed in the left half-space alongside Cole Palmer. In doing so, not only would the new Chelsea star have the freedom to play in the pockets, but also hug the touchline when the middle of the park grows congested.
If Alonso were to play a back four, just as he did in his early days at Real Sociedad and later at Real Madrid, Rogers would, instead, likely be used as more of an out-and-out left winger, with Palmer in the middle and Estevao Willian on the right.
Until the new Blues manager takes charge of his first game at Stamford Bridge next month, it remains to be seen exactly what role Rogers will have, whether it’s wide, central, or a mix of both. In January 2025, the England international explained his transition from a winger to a playmaker.
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Speaking to Gary Lineker and Micah Richards on The Rest Is Football podcast, Rogers said: “I like being involved in the game. I think out wide, you can get a bit bogged down, a bit stuck out wide, waiting for something to happen.
“Whereas I think in the middle I can make stuff happen, even if a second ball or a ricochet can just accidentally fall to you, and you can make something of it, even if you’re not getting the ball.
“That’s what you have to do sometimes. I enjoy that. I enjoy the battle. I enjoy the physical battle in midfield. Michael Carrick was probably the first person that actually put me there when I was at Middlesbrough. I started playing more centrally at Middlesbrough.
“I was always a winger growing up at (Manchester) City. Then I became more central at Middlesbrough, so I’ve had to work on receiving the ball in tight areas, receiving it in little pockets of space, and understanding where to get on the ball and stuff, and adapt my game that way.
“I’d probably say I enjoy central, but I don’t mind playing that wide. I played there for England at every age group. I’ve always played that wide. When you’ve got technicians like we do at England, playing in them pockets, it’s probably hard to knock them out, so playing that wide is probably easier for me.
“I’ve got more space to dribble and to drive. So wherever the game is, every game is different, so wherever the space is, I want to play really. Playing against City out wide was a bit better than centrally against City because they’re quite narrow, so it just depends on the game and what the game brings.”
In an interview with The Independent in September 2025, Rogers reflected on his development at Aston Villa. On playing a central role, the Englishman said: “I think if you asked me that a year, two years ago, I would probably say no.
“But I think the way I’ve developed at Villa as well as here (St. George’s Park), I think I’ve become more comfortable in that position, and I’ve probably played that the most in the last year, where I’ve done really well and improved.
“So yeah, that’s my most comfortable position, but I’m pretty comfortable in all positions. I don’t mind where I play as long as I’m on that pitch trying to improve. I think I can play in probably three or four different positions and give my best and give my all and create something different.”
Then, in January 2026, Rogers told the BBC that he has what it takes to play anywhere across the frontline. The former Aston Villa talisman said: “I think I’m a bit different to everyone that plays in my position.
“I like to see myself as someone that can do different things on the pitch. When asked, I can be a number 10, I can be a winger, I can be a striker.
“If you ask me to do it and you give me the instructions to do it, I think I’ve got the capabilities to offer something different to maybe what other people don’t have, which is a nice thing.”
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