Published Jul 18, 2026, 6:46 PM GMT+1

Emilio is an experienced football journalist who has worked at Football FanCast for over six years.

After graduating with first-class honours from the University of Central Lancashire in 2019, it didn't take long for Emilio to clinch his first job in journalism at Snack Media, now Valnet.

Emilio has written for a host of the company's biggest past and current football news websites - Vital Football, The Transfer Tavern and Football FanCast. 

Emilio's strengths include the intricacies of football transfers, while he particularly enjoys writing about the business side of football. He has covered Tottenham Hotspur on a weekly basis for a number of years now, developing a deep understanding of the culture and what Lilywhites fans engage with.

In his spare time, you can find Emilio travelling the world, or even in a boxing ring.

The England international has developed into one of the Premier League's most exciting attacking players since joining Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in 2024.

Trusted with a key role by Unai Emery, Rogers has become a genuine match-winner thanks to his pace, power and ability to play across the front line.

His rapid rise naturally attracted interest from some of England's biggest clubs.

Arsenal had been heavily linked with the 23-year-old for months and credible reports suggested Mikel Arteta's side were nearing a deal for Rogers.

Rogers' versatility, work rate and Premier League experience made him an obvious target as Arsenal searched for another elite forward.

Chelsea, however, never disappeared from the race. The Blues have monitored Rogers for a long time and, under Xabi Alonso, appear determined to add proven Premier League quality rather than relying solely on emerging talent.

Villa were always in a strong negotiating position. Rogers signed a new contract until 2031 last year, meaning there was no pressure whatsoever to sell unless an extraordinary offer arrived.

That strengthened Villa's hand throughout negotiations and made it clear any interested club would need to pay a premium.

If Chelsea have genuinely managed to beat Arsenal to his signature, it would represent a huge statement.

Not only would they land one of England's brightest attacking stars, they would also deny one of their biggest rivals a player viewed as capable of improving an already title-winning squad.

Chelsea reach verbal agreement to sign Morgan Rogers and hijack Arsenal

According to Ornstein of The Athletic, Chelsea have now reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign Rogers in what would become one of the biggest deals in Premier League history.

Ornstein reports that Villa have accepted a bid worth £117 million, with the agreement now being finalised. He also states that Rogers has agreed a six-year contract with the option of a further year, while a medical has been scheduled for Monday.

Perhaps the most interesting detail is Arsenal's role in the story. Ornstein says the Gunners remained interested throughout the process, but Rogers ultimately chose Chelsea instead.

He also reports that Alonso played an instrumental role in convincing the England international that Stamford Bridge was the right destination for the next stage of his career.

If the deal is completed, Chelsea will be paying an enormous fee, but they will also be signing a player entering his peak years with Premier League experience already behind him.

There will naturally be pressure attached to such a huge price tag, and every performance will be analysed and comparisons with other British transfer records will be unavoidable.

Even so, if Alonso can unlock another level in his game, this could become the defining signing of his new era at Stamford Bridge.