When the English national team confronts Latvia this coming Tuesday, Aston Villa’s very own Morgan Rogers is anticipating a spot in the initial lineup.
Rogers has been experiencing an inspiring climb in his career. Following a four-year tenure with Manchester City, whom he joined from West Bromwich Albion, the 23-year-old took some time to truly establish himself.
Man City sent the attacking midfielder, born in Halesowen, out on loan to Lincoln City, AFC Bournemouth, and Blackpool between the years 2021 and 2023. Two years prior, he was transferred to Championship side Middlesbrough without ever participating in a Premier League match.
Rogers’ enhancement at Villa elevated anticipation
Rogers made his way to Villa in January of 2024, having played fewer than 30 Championship games for Boro. In contrast to many other recent acquisitions by Villa, the former West Brom talent was immediately integrated into the team.
His performance was consistently strong until August, when uncertainties about his form – which had already surfaced the prior season – grew to become a prominent talking point during Villa’s disappointing start to the 2025-26 season.
Rogers, who has played for England at all youth levels over the past decade, had a noticeable dip in form leading up to the September international matches.
Despite his popularity at Villa Park, his series of below-par performances led to considerable critique. Even considering Villa’s poor overall form, Rogers’ shortcomings were particularly evident.
By the time he was sarcastically applauded for a successful pass against Bologna in the Europa League, and then genuinely cheered for his improved play in the Premier League match against Fulham, a different story began to emerge.
Even before Rogers started to resemble his former self while playing for Villa, he was being praised for his efforts with England in September. Some viewed this as encouraging, while others saw it as a confirmation that he was giving more effort for one team than the other.
After achieving his first senior international goal in the match against Wales on Thursday, it’s reasonable to assert that Rogers’ two strongest performances this season have been while representing England.
With each game, we’re starting to observe slight improvements for Villa that hint at the return of a significant talent. Throughout this period, Villa’s strategy has remained steadfast, irrespective of external discussions.
Manager Unai Emery has consistently included Rogers in the starting lineup, dismissing recommendations that he should not be playing, demonstrating his confidence in a player known for his skill and seeking to guide him back to peak performance.
Insiders say that Villa is keen on offering Rogers a new contract, despite him having agreed to an extension within 11 months of joining and having a commitment to the club until the summer of 2030.
Why Villa wishes to extend Rogers’ agreement
Essentially, Villa’s high regard for Rogers is based on the conviction that his recent dip in form, while not unprecedented in 2025, is just a temporary setback.
He has stood out in Champions League games and has been impactful for England, and Villa’s recruitment team tends to avoid quick judgments.
Rogers is still viewed as a key player for Villa – when factoring in both his on-field talent and future financial prospects, he is possibly the most valuable player within the team.
The financial aspects cannot be overlooked.
Rogers was rumored to be a potential transfer target for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer period. The potential fees that were mentioned would have placed Villa in a more financially secure situation than they have been in years.
He could potentially be sold within the next year. Villa’s transfer policy necessitates selling players, even those they’d prefer to keep, and Rogers is the one who could generate significant revenue from a squad that possesses a good amount of talent but also includes several older players.
Offering him a new contract before the January transfer window would safeguard his transfer value from Villa’s perspective, strengthening the club’s position whether they decide to retain him, willingly sell him, or are forced to sell him next summer.
A salary increase and the inclusion of a release clause may be enough to persuade Rogers to commit to a new contract.
