How Morgan Rogers will fit into Xabi Alonso’s team – and why Chelsea paid so much to steal England star from Arsenal

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Rogers was a long-standing Arsenal target and, as The Independent understands, a priority signing for Mikel Arteta from well before this summer.The England international has impressed in recent seasons for club and country, so much so that debate swirled around who should start between Rogers and Jude Bellingham for Thomas Tuchel’s side at this summer’s World Cup.Morgan Rogers has signed for Chelsea (Getty)Bellingham’s remarkable form underlined his superiority, but that is no slight on Rogers, who has piled up 18 goals and 16 assists in the Premier League across the last two seasons.That is the ninth-most in the league and the same as Cole Palmer, his friend and new teammate with whom he shares the famous ‘cold’ celebration.Let’s take a deeper look at what Rogers brings, where he fits in and the potential issues that could arise with the England international on board under Xabi Alonso.Why have Chelsea signed Rogers?The fee for Rogers is eye-watering, of that there is no doubt as the fourth most expensive in the history of the game, and those who have cost in excess of £100m have tended to struggle to justify that investment.Yet Chelsea’s aggression in negotiations suggests they believe Rogers can certainly fit into their system, with Alonso evidently on board and, as The Independent understands, proving decisive in the player’s decision, having strongly considered Arsenal, too.Unlike Arsenal, though, Chelsea offer the prospect of a more fluid rotation or, you could argue, a squad with less consistency and proven quality, which should allow Rogers to impose himself quickly. That could prove attractive to the player, who may have found a clear path to playing time complicated by some of Arsenal’s newly-crowned champions, as has been the case with Eberechi Eze in his debut season at the Emirates.Alonso will lean on his versatility: Rogers can play as a No 10, which is probably initially blocked by Palmer when he’s healthy, but Chelsea might also use him at left-wing, right-wing or even either side of a defensive midfielder in a three as a No 8.Morgan Rogers in action for England at the World Cup 2026 (Reuters)There’s immense workrate to go with his final-third contributions and a willingness to keep moving, both with and without the ball.

Palmer’s rate is comparable after 30 of his 64 shots came from outside the box (46.9 per cent), which could offer a glimpse of how Chelsea hope to lure opponents out of a deep block and ultimately break them down.The plan will be for Alonso to make Rogers a pillar of his team, but at 24 years of age and with such variety to his game, Rogers also appeals as a piece of the long-term puzzle at Stamford Bridge, should things change in the dugout, with ties to the club until 2033.The almighty premium brings trepidation, but also some comfort: there is a reason why Premier League players have an extra tax when moving inside the division. While unfamiliarity with the manager brings an element of uncertainty, his close ties to Palmer and Reece James with England, and fellow City academy graduates Tosin Adarabioyo, Jamie Gittens, Romeo Lavia and Liam Delap, ensure the environment is set up for him to succeed.Reece James of Chelsea battles for possession with Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa (Getty)So where does Rogers fit in to Alonso’s Chelsea?

Rogers enjoyed the luxury of Unai Emery building around him, Aston Villa’s patterns of play bounced off him, but at Chelsea, there will be an element of fitting in. That would complicate how Alonso integrates Rogers, Palmer, Joao Pedro and, once fully fit, Estevao Willian.In fact, it would be almost impossible for all four to start in that shape, but there is the mouthwatering potential that quartet could co-exist in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 as a No 8, as detailed above, or as one of two No 10s behind a centre-forward.There’s also an elephant in the room: Palmer’s fitness concerns from last season, with just 26 Premier League appearances.