Morgan Rogers edges closer to transfer as domino falls

13 Jul 2026 10:01 BST | 5 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Morgan Rogers appears to have moved one step closer to securing a blockbuster summer transfer following confirmation that Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sign Johan Manzambi.

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The Switzerland international had looked set to complete a move to Newcastle United ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, but Villa have hijacked the deal and the 20-year-old is on his way to Unai Emery’s side for a club-record fee in excess of €60 million, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Current ETV

Johan Manzambi

M, DM (C)

SC Freiburg

Johan Manzambi

M, DM (C)

SC Freiburg

ETV Range

€28.3M - €34.6M

Manzambi was one of the breakout stars of the 2026 World Cup, registering five goal contributions in just four games, while he played a pivotal role for Freiburg as they reached last season’s Europa League final before succumbing to a 3-0 defeat to his soon-to-be new employers.

The Freiburg midfielder will become Villa’s second signing of the summer window, after LASK defender Modou Keba Cisse, and while his imminent arrival is fantastic news for Unai Emery, it has raised serious questions over Rogers’ future at the club.

The England international has been heavily linked with a summer transfer and, as reported by FootballTransfers, Arsenal are pushing to finalise a deal as they look to secure the signing of one of Mikel Arteta’s priority targets.

Chelsea are also keen to sign Rogers, although their lack of European football counts against them, while Manchester United have been linked with a blockbuster deal in recent weeks too.

Up until now, Aston Villa have been reluctant to sanction a sale and reports indicate that a fee of over €120m will be required to tempt the Midlands outfit into a sale during the summer transfer window.

However, their decision to sign Manzambi, whose best position is as a No.10 like Rogers, suggests that Emery could be set to lose his star man.

Aston Villa don’t have a limitless transfer budget and with Manzambi on the verge of becoming their all-time record signing, he is expected to play a key role next season. Rogers and Manzambi are both best when deployed as an attacking midfielder, and the pair therefore aren’t well-suited to playing alongside each other in Emery's 4-4-1-1 system.

So, with Manzambi arriving to become an integral player for Villa, it may mean that Rogers is to be sold.

© IMAGO - Arsenal want to sign Morgan Rogers this summer

Morgan Rogers to join Arsenal?

FootballTransfers understands that Rogers is keen to complete a move to Arsenal this summer, while Gunners boss Arteta is eager for his side to finalise a deal for the England international ahead of Leandro Trossard’s move to Besiktas.

Julian Alvarez, Bradley Barcola and Christos Tzolis are also on Arsenal’s radar as they look to bolster their forward ranks this summer, but Rogers is a priority target and they are currently the frontrunners for his signature.

The 23-year-old registered 16 goal contributions in 37 Premier League games for Aston Villa last season and he could become Arsenal’s most expensive signing of all time if he joins the club before the summer window closes.

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