Morgan Rogers has opened up about the conversations with Cole Palmer that paved the way for his remarkable transfer to Chelsea. Completing a record £117 million move from Aston Villa, Rogers now holds the title of the most expensive British player in history and is set to reunite with his childhood friend, Palmer, at Stamford Bridge.

“I’ve known Cole since I was about 14, first in the England [youth] teams and then when we were both at Man City together,” Rogers stated after signing a seven-year contract. He expressed excitement about finally playing together, saying, “We’ve been speaking about this for a while. We always would love to have played together. So, for it to happen, we’re both excited.”

The duo, both capable of playing in the No 10 position, is expected to complement each other in attack under new manager Xabi Alonso.

Rogers also discussed how Alonso's influence was pivotal in his decision to join Chelsea, especially over Premier League champions Arsenal. He remarked, “I’ve had a few conversations with him and I think it’s important for me to be here that I need to understand what the manager’s like, how he is and how he wants to operate.”

He concluded by emphasizing the alignment of his playing style with Alonso’s vision: “It very much fits with the way I see the game, the way I want to play, and the way I want to be me, and be free and express myself. Him being a part of that was a massive factor in me being here.”