Arsenal learn what it will take to sign World Cup star - and it is staggering

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Arsenal will have to pay a British record €152million (£130m) in order to prize Morgan Rogers away from Aston Villa, according to the Daily Mail.

BBC Sport reported in June that the Gunners want to sign a versatile attacker this summer, with Villa star Rogers at the top of their wishlist.

Rogers has developed a reputation as one of the Premier League’s best forwards over the last two-and-a-half seasons with Villa.

STATS

Morgan Rogers

AM (C), M (CL)

A. Villa

Morgan Rogers

AM (C), M (CL)

A. Villa

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 55

  Games

• 14

  Goals

• 11

  Assists

View all stats

The 23-year-old has scored 31 goals in 125 games since moving to Villa Park from Championship side Middlesbrough in February 2024.

Rogers was also named UEFA Europa League Player of the Season after helping Unai Emery's side win the competition in 2025-26.

However, The Telegraph understands Villa do not want to sell Rogers despite the club being hamstrung by UEFA’s spending rules.

A separate report in the Mail claims Villa effectively need to make a huge sale before signing new players under UEFA’s financial rules.

And the same publication speculates that player could end up being Rogers, despite Villa’s desire to keep hold of the attacking midfielder.

The Mail claims a British record €152m (£130m) fee would be enough for Villa to open negotiations with Arsenal over Rogers.

Alexander Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record €144m (£125m) last summer.

Arsenal would also need to break the bank for PSG's Barcola

The Mail also understands Arsenal would be required to stump up a similar fee to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola.

The same outlet claims France international Barcola is entertaining proposals from interested suitors this summer, with Liverpool also keen.

BBC Sport reported in June that Arsenal are only considering Barcola as an alternative to Rogers, and are not looking to sign both players.

Rogers and Barcola are currently at the World Cup with England and France respectively, with the quarter-final stage looming.

England forward Rogers was a late substitute in his country’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16 on Monday morning.

A 10-man Three Lions rearguard kept Mexico at bay to set up another blockbuster clash with Norway in the quarter-finals.

Barcola meanwhile will be hoping to start when France face Morocco in a rematch of their World Cup semi-final clash at Qatar 2022.

The 23-year-old has scored two goals and recorded one assist at this summer's World Cup, with Les Bleus edging past Paraguay in the last 16.